Power Plate® Mini+™ Black, Lightweight, Quiet Handheld Massager, with Carry Pouch and 5hrs Battery Life

Product Information

You get an excellent choice of attachments (there are six to choose from), and each one fits in easily with a pushing/twisting action. They stay firmly in place, even on higher power settings, but are easily removed when you're done. The HoMedics Pro Physio Massage Gun has a runtime of around five hours, or three and a half if you're using the heated function. According to Claxton, yes. “They are often recommended by physiotherapists because of their positive effects on the body including reducing pain and decreasing lactic acid, which in turn can aid recovery,” he states. “Massage guns are also great to use before a workout as they improve your range of movement by manipulating soft tissue with vibration and speed.” Are vibrating massage guns good for you? The Novo Mini Massage Gun is a handy piece of kit. Featuring four attachment heads and six vibration frequencies, ranging from 1,400 to 2,800 RPM, it proves itself to be a versatile product for a great price. Out of the box, the Novo Mini looks and feels sturdy, fitting tidily in the protective travel case supplied.

So even if you’re not the sporty type, a massage gun can do wonders for your physical and mental health, and even help you wind down for a good night’s sleep. However, there’s a few extra things to remember when using a massage gun for the first time.Most importantly, to avoid injury, don't use a massage gun on a bony area or a joint, or on an injury like a sprain or broken skin. For comparison, its nearest competitor, the Theragun Mini, comes with just one head, and has only three speed settings compared to four for the Power Plate Mini+. Performance Its five power settings are simple to control, and range from a gentle massage to a vigorous pummelling that's suited to large, particularly tight muscles. It's seriously fast, delivering between 1,400 and 3,200 pulses per minute. Yes, if trying to target a certain area of the body, use a vibrating massage gun to help increase blood flow will prepare the body for exercise,” Claxton continues. Increasing blood flow is a desirable outcome both before and after exercise, as it improves performance, reduces the chance of injury, and improves recovery — three things that anyone from amateur to pro, can appreciate. What is the best Theragun?The best massage gun for your particular needs will depend on a few different factors. First and foremost, you need to look at your budget. If things are tight, opt for a smaller percussive massage device like the Renpho above, which is also small enough to stuff in a gym bag. Another significant feature of the new Pulse is the addition of the new antimicrobial coating, which helps stop the spread of everyday germs and bacteria. As its name suggests, the Power Plate Mini+ is a compact massage gun, measuring 15cm x 9cm for the device alone, with no attachments. The box includes the gun itself, two massage attachments, a USB-C charging cable, and a robust drawstring carry bag. Amplitude on a massage gun basically describes how deep it can get into those problematic areas and give you that deep-tissue massage experience. A top-end Theragun offers 16mm amplitude, for example, while the PulseRoll alternative delivers 12mm. The higher the number, the deeper the massage gun can go to work, particularly on really problematic parts of the body. How much does a massage gun cost?

PrecisionWave™ Technology: High-fidelity harmonic vibration system that provides uncompromising performance for unsurpassed results The improved Pulse now bests the competition on every measure: It has an industry leading six vibration intensity levels, a longer-lasting 6-hour battery life from a single charge, is the quietest among leading brands and is 20% lighter than its predecessor. The Pulse also includes 6 unique attachments to optimize preparation and recovery. Each feature has been thoughtfully designed to ensure users are getting the best-in-class experience. You also get five interchangeable foam attachments (dampener, standard ball, wedge, thumb and cone) and five speeds (1,750-2,400ppm), giving you many different combinations of surface and intensity for different muscle groups and parts of your body. You’re guided through these combinations and helped to achieve your perfect massage programme by the app. Foam rollers and lacrosse balls are excellent post-workout massagers, but even budget massage guns have more power than your more analogue forms of home massage solutions. The main reason for this is its high-frequency operation, which works to increase blood flow and therefore encourage recovery in the muscles targeted.As with stretching, though, you’re advised not to overdo it. Don’t be tempted to use your massage gun for more than 10 minutes in one go, especially on the higher speed settings. Experts suggest focusing your massage gun on each muscle group for only up to 30 seconds before and during exercise. Then once your workout is done, you can go at it a bit more, spending up to two minutes on each muscle group. A massage gun favoured by athletes and Olympians alike (we're talking Tokyo 2020 gold medalists here), the Hydragun is one of the most technologically advanced massage guns around right now. Designed with a Smoothdrive motor, it's as quiet as massage guns come, making between 30 to 50db of noise with each use (which, to put that into context, is just slightly louder than a whisper). The Shavron Vibration Massage Gun is approximately the same price as the Hydragun, above, and is another excellent mid-range percussive massager. It's not as quiet, but it's lighter, making it more comfortable to hold for long sessions. A timer will cut the motor after 10 minutes to help ensure you don't keep going for longer than is recommended. Speed levels: The speed with which the head of the device pounds against you is measured in percussions per minute (PPM). About 2400 PPM is about as intense as most people will want to go, but one of our best-value recommended massage guns goes up to 4800, very much the “up to 11” of the massage gun world.

All of the guns we've recommended here come with guides to help you. Our top-rated massage gun, the PowerPlate Mini+, also has a smartphone app with video tutorials. I utilised all four heads, but worked mostly with the bullet. After some pre-season training and a gentle cool down, I used the bullet to release tension in tight regions – namely, the hamstrings. I started with the flat head on its maximum setting, focusing on tender areas to bring a layer of warmth to the tissue. I then identified areas for localised treatment and put the bullet to work, pushing deep to work away any nasty knots. Following 10-15 minutes of identifying, warming and treating the tissue, I rounded off with some static and dynamic stretches, allowing the muscle to contract and release through a range of natural movements. The Power Plate Mini+ ranks highly in our best massage gun list thanks to its sheer convenience. It's one of the smallest guns we've tested, but its highest power settings still deliver a powerful massage that'll really help loosen tense muscles.The Renpho R3 is the other massage gun we’ve reviewed in-depth. It can’t equal the Theragun Elite for brute power (hence its four-star score), but as the second-cheapest massage gun on our list it offers amazing value for money. Massage guns can help increase blood flow, by pummelling a specific area of muscle with high-powered vibrations. In doing so, this process can contribute to decreasing muscle inflammation and tension, which can include breaking up annoying knots. They’re also a great tool for warming up your muscles ahead of an intensive workout, further reducing the risk of injury. What is massage gun amplitude?

Dual Sync™ Twin Motor System: DualSync Twin Motor System maintains precise balance at any frequency and amplitude level, allowing perfect synchronization of vibration for maximum muscle response and efficiency The power button is located on the bottom of the handle, and is also used to control the gun’s speed. There are four intensity settings, which you can cycle through by pressing the power button while the gun is on. The power button is surrounded by eight LEDs: four red ones on the right that indicate the battery charge level, and four white ones on the left show the intensity. It's definitely an investment, but if you really want to treat yourself, or have a partner who'll be using it as well, you may be able to justify spending the extra cash. The All-New Power Plate Pulse has improved performance on every measure - plus the first ever with antimicrobial coating, for the Ultimate User Experience We examine and rate each of the massage guns for price, availability, design, features and battery life. We go hands-on on each percussive device by trying out the different heads across their specified uses, as well as any additional features such as heated or cooling functions. At the end of each review, we’ll tell you what kind of use, and individual, each gun is best suited for as well as a list of any weak points we found. Frequently asked questions: How do I use a massage gun the right way?READ NEXT: The best foam roller The best massage guns to buy now 1. Theragun Elite: Best massage gun for deep sports massage As its name implies, this massage gun from HoMedics wouldn't be out of place in the hands of a physiotherapist. Of all the machines we've tested (including those that didn't make this roundup), it's the one that delivered the strongest, most assertive massage – and when you really need it, the optional heated attachment is bliss, aiding in helping tough muscles relax. What’s important is that you have a few speeds to choose between, so you can opt for low-intensity massage for everyday muscle relief, medium to boost recovery, and high intensity to get rid of painful knots. Look for three or more optional speeds, which are easy to switch between while you use the device.