A muscle massager may either be a hand-held wand or stick or an electronic device. Both types of massager are meant to aid an individual in massaging his own muscles without the need of a second person or potentially expensive professional. When muscles are sore or knotted after exercise or everyday activity, one can use a muscle massager to help relieve tension and pain.
Introducing the body to new forms of exercise is often necessary to lose weight and push past frustrating plateaus. A painful result, however, may be sore muscles. This pain could last for several days, and it could hinder movement. This hindrance could create an injury in the long run if not attended to. If an individual favors the right leg for several days because the left leg is sore, for instance, too much stress may be placed on the right foot, ankle, knee and even the hip.
Muscle tightness can result from other daily activities, too. Sitting and standing for long periods of time could create painful knots. Stress could be another factor that results in muscle tension.
One could use a manual muscle massager to help relieve the pain and tension of these various factors. This equipment resembles a long, thin baton and is often padded for comfort. One can grasp a manual massager with both hands and gently roll it over sore muscles. This equipment is fairly inexpensive and is easy to transport to the gym or office.
Another option is an electronic muscle massager, which is typically more expensive than the manual version. Most models consist of several patches connected to a type of control. The patches may adhere temporarily to the skin over sore muscles. The user can control the intensity of the pulses sent to the muscles through the patches.
Both types of muscle massager can help by promoting the circulation of blood through the muscle tissue. Pain from cramps and stiff muscles often decreases as blood pumps through the affected muscles. Increased circulation could also help one feel more invigorated even after strenuous exercise.
A manual muscle massager and its electronic counterpart may work in slightly different ways. An electronic massager often advertises a deep tissue massage. It is thought that the electronic pulses penetrate through the skin and deep into the muscle tissue and even the nervous system and bones.
Manual massagers tend to work more alone the lines of the principle of trigger point therapy. Rolling the massager over sore muscles may help one to locate an especially painful knot. A trigger point like this may hurt not only at the site; it can also cause a domino effect on other tight muscles throughout the body and even cause headaches. By placing pressure via the massager to the trigger point for roughly 20 or 30 seconds, the muscle may be relieved of tension.
Muscle massagers can be used safely throughout the day. Many athletes like to use them directly before and after a workout to stimulate circulation and ward off painful knots the next day. Both types of massager should come with directions to help users avoid incorrect usage.