This Is the New Fitness Tool You've Seen All Over Instagram

Updated on Sep 27, 2018 at 12:00 PM

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We love working out, but rest and recovery is just as important if you want to keep your body healthy and happy. More and more people are starting to stay for the stretch after workout classes, and we're seeing dedicated foam rolling or stretching classes popping up, which makes us so happy. But recently, there's been a new gadget that takes muscle recovery to the next level, and fitness influencers and serious athletes alike have been all over it. Meet the Theragun.

What Is the Theragun?

Simply put, the Theragun ($599) is a tool for muscle recovery. Almost like the most extreme massage chair you can imagine, you place the tip of the gun on your sore muscles and move it up and down until you feel the tightness worked out of you. It vibrates like crazy, eliminating the feeling of sore muscles in the process. You should apply it to each sore spot for a couple of minutes. Your body will know when it's best to stop, and the kit comes with a couple different sized balls that you can interchange based on what body part you're massaging.

Theragun

From

$599

Will It Hurt?

I mean, it's not the most relaxing thing you'll ever do. Similar to foam rolling, it's kind of supposed to be a bit uncomfortable. But if you've got serious soreness, or are spending a lot of time working out, this will make a huge difference in the way you're able to recover and train again the next day. Also, the vibrations will take a little bit of getting used to, there's no way around that. Think of it like an intense, deep massage.

Can I Use It Myself?

It depends on the part of the body you need it for. For example, if you're working out your quads, you can theoretically hold the gun yourself, but it does vibrate pretty rapidly. For most other body parts, I might recommend having someone else hold it, so you can focus solely on your muscles. But if someone else is holding the Theragun, make sure you're being communicative about what exactly you want from a pressure perspective. It's easy for someone else to push harder or softer than might be necessary.

Do I Need This?

This tool is really beneficial for two types of people; if you've got muscle soreness that just won't go away no matter what, or if you're doing long stretches of high-intensity training on a consistent (think daily) basis. Though I will say, as someone who works out four to five times a week doing a combination of high and low intensity training, it does feel really really good to stimulate your lymphatic system with the Theragun. It gets a thumbs up from me, and is an amazing gift for the athlete in your life. But fair warning: once you start, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.