The Women’s Health Lab has put some of the top massage guns to the test to bring you its favourites for banishing post-workout pain. When buying a massage gun, the best one comes down to personal preference. But as a rule of thumb, you’ll want to consider power, design, portability and battery life. Use in a similar way to a foam roller; either before exercise to activate muscles and increase blood flow, or after to release tension and prevent DOMS. Or, simply when you feel your shoulders creeping up towards your ears and tension setting in. The compact device comes with a sleek little travel case, with enough room to fit all the accessories, so you can easily take it to the gym or shove it in your suitcase if you’re jetting off on holiday.

Each massage gun was judged on overall effectiveness, as well as how well they could glide over muscles, how easy they were to control, the practicality of their design, and their strength. Bonus points were also on offer for any innovative features or smart additions like carry cases. The muscle guns below, marked with our Women’s Health Lab Approved logo, have been put to the test in our lab. Our expert tester has trialled them over a three-week period, using them around their hectic exercise schedule — made up of weightlifting, running, HIIT, yoga and more — to see how well each one helped muscles to recover. Much like going for a massage, a muscle gun helps to reduce inflammation by flushing out your muscle tissues of the fluids built up by exercise and daily bodily stress. They use percussive therapy – repeated strikes to help relax muscle tension and alleviate soreness, which, if you suffer from regular DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), can be a real lifesaver. And whether they work as claimed? Our experts have put this to the test! How to use a massage gun

Best massage guns at a glance:

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As for cheaper massage guns, these tend to have harder attachment heads (which make for a slightly less comfortable experience), a shorter battery life, or are less durable. If there's a choice between a cheap muscle gun and a more expensive massage gun that's on sale, we'd always suggest going with the one that looks like it will last the longest and is the most specced out. If it comes with a warranty, even better. Do massage guns work? Invest in one of the best massage guns out there and you can use it before exercise to activate your muscles and increase blood flow, or post-workout to release tension and ward off DOMS. It will help you recover faster, boost your circulation, increase flexibility and extend your range of motion. Phew! You can also use it to soothe WFH-related niggles, or for a spot of relaxation after a stressful day – trust us, it feels pretty darn good.