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When Tim Herrera fires up his Black+Decker 6-inch Eccentric Wax/Buff, he focuses on a different kind of body care than the machine was designed for: He uses it for percussive muscle massage, a form of soft-tissue manipulation believed to aid recovery from exercise.
Herrera, who is the Smart Living editor at The New York Times (Wirecutter’s parent company), is currently training for a marathon, averaging 25 to 50 miles a week. He typically uses a foam roller once or twice a week for more traditional self-myofascial release (SMR), an affordable alternative to a professional post-workout massage. “But if I’m in a lot of pain or it’s just been a long time, I’ll pull out the buffer,” he said. “The force was so intense that I could only hold it for a few minutes.”
If it’s comfortable for you and doesn’t cause you any harm, give it a try. But keep in mind that the benefits you get from it may have nothing to do with your muscles and everything to do with your mind.
There are a variety of massage sticks, trigger balls, and even power tools on the market that promise to loosen muscle knots, eliminate muscle adhesions, increase mobility, and reduce recovery time.
Anecdotal evidence and marketing tout the relaxing properties of foam rollers, percussion massagers and the like, but scientific evidence is scant. “What we found in our study was that these products do provide very short-term relief — almost as short-term as the … vibration devices,” said Dr. Dennis Cardone, a sports medicine specialist and assistant professor of orthopedics at NYU Langone Medical Center. Percussion massage may increase blood and lymph flow to the area, he said. “But beyond that, the evidence is just not compelling.”
Whether an electric massager is right for you depends largely on your subjective experience. If it feels comfortable and, most importantly, doesn’t hurt when you use it, then go for it. (We’re not aware of any reports of injuries from using either tool, but if you have any questions about the safety of these types of home massagers, you should consult with your doctor.) But keep in mind that the sensations you think you’re getting from them may have less to do with your muscular strength and more to do with your psychological state. “There’s a significant psychological component to a lot of massagers,” says Cardone. “And when it comes to sports and other activities, you know what? Sometimes there’s a mental component to it, too.”
I was curious about all the hype surrounding percussive massage tools, so I invited Herrera to try out his favorite $29 waxing and polishing machine (a clear, utilitarian cult favorite among athletes and exercise enthusiasts) and a specialty device: the Theragun G3Pro ($599), a powerful, high-tech handheld device that the company claims can relieve muscle tension and soreness, ease pain, and maximize athletic performance and recovery.
The main differences between the $599 G3Pro and the $29 polisher are power sources (the G3Pro runs on batteries, while the polisher needs to be plugged in) and targeting (the G3Pro massager comes with different attachments for specific areas of the body, while the polisher can’t be customized). The G3Pro’s vertical percussion action uses 16mm of pulsating motion, while the Black+Decker’s discs oscillate. The volume on both devices is pretty loud, so if you like to watch Netflix while you’re percussing, you might want to put on some headphones so you don’t miss a beat of Stranger Things’ “Upside Down.”
The cordless G3Pro has a triangular design with three different grip options, making it easy to target hard-to-reach areas like the upper back and shoulders, as well as smaller parts of the body like the feet and thighs.
The sensation isn’t entirely unpleasant—the trick is to let the Theragun “float” over your body—but I found even the low speeds too intense for more sensitive areas like my calves. (The device can deliver up to 60 pounds of force.) Adjustable arms can be adjusted to four positions. Six interchangeable attachments of varying shapes and sizes provide a variety of options, depending on the area you want to massage.
Herrera started by cleaning the thighs and calves with a larger dome-shaped attachment, then moved on to a cone-shaped attachment. “This tapered attachment is better for the shoulder,” he said, noting that the shoulder can be difficult for a polisher/waxer to reach (after all, a polisher/waxer is designed to polish car bodies).
Is it worth the extra $560? For most people, it’s probably not. “[It's] really easy to use,” Herrera said, “but the price — it’s not worth it.”
Theragun offers two budget models: the G3 ($399), which comes with four attachments, and the Liv ($249), which comes with two attachments and one speed setting. Both options provide up to 40 pounds of traction, with the G3Pro providing 60 pounds.
The Black+Decker Corded Waxer’s vibrations are stronger and more diffuse than the G3Pro’s; after a quick massage of my calves and quads, I felt my limbs buzzing. (As a general rule, use the percussion massager for a few seconds per area.) The waxer and polisher has a comfortable, two-handed handle, making it easy to maneuver along the lower body. However, it lacks the precision and massage efficiency of the G3Pro’s interchangeable attachments.
To get a sharper angle, I angle the wax/buffing disc, which makes it easier to reach areas like my calves and butt and gives me overall better control. If you’re using this method on your upper body, consider asking for help (for her back, Herrera asks her roommate to help), and always brush your hair back and away from the disc to avoid tangling. We used the lint-buffing attachment, which was smooth and didn’t leave much lint on my black running leggings.
Bottom line: If you’re comfortable using a power tool, like the G3Pro impact tool or oscillating wax polisher, it might be worth it. Both tools have essentially the same effect. If you don’t want to limit yourself to one tool for massaging your muscles, or can’t reach your back and shoulders without help, the more expensive Theragun might be a good option. Otherwise, the corded Black+Decker (which is about a quarter of the price) will probably suffice.
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Wirecutter is the product recommendation service of The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (sometimes) additional testing so you can make buying decisions quickly and confidently. Whether you’re looking for great products or helpful advice, we’re here to help you make the right choice (the first time).