Theragun Pro Review – Is it worth it?
by Fitspedia Staff Writers
The market has been flooded with vibration massage devices and sitting at the top is Theragun with their Pro model. It’s not cheap, retailing for AUD $899, so let’s take a look at why you need (or don’t need) this in your gym bag or at home.
The real deal
When you have so many vibration and massage devices available that can cost as little as a hundred dollars, do you really need to shell out for a Theragun? Well, for starters, Theragun actually design their devices themselves – they aren’t a rebadged device available from Alibaba. They’ve invested in research, design and development and are the pioneers behind the science of PERCUSSIVE massage (more on this shortly). The Theragun Pro’s shape and motors are patented, too, with the unique triangle design allowing you to reach pretty much every part your body for yourself. Best of all, the unit is quiet while being incredibly powerful – the commercial-grade brushless motor with QuietForce Technology delivers up to 60lbs of force. Try a cheaper massage device and watch it slow down or grind to a halt when you put some pressure on it (if you even feel anything at all) and get ready to annoy some people with some machine gun style noise!
Percussive vs Vibration therapy
It’s important to distinguish between percussive massage therapy, which is what the Theragun Pro offers, and vibration massage therapy which is what the large majority of cheaper alternatives do. The Theragun Pro has an amplitude of 16mm – that’s how far the arm/head of the device extends and retracts to deliver each hit to your body. Cheaper alternatives often have a much smaller amplitude (6mm-12mm), which makes it more of a vibration device. The depth a Theragun Pro can reach using its 16mm amplitude is what sets its apart from its competitors (or, some would say, imitators).
Speed matters
Many vibration massagers desensitize the skin due to their low amplitude, high-speed vibrations. The Theragun Pro, in contrast, leaves the skin 40 times per second so your brain doesn’t get used to the stimulation, and combined with its patented motor action, a Theragun can maintain power without compromising treatment speed or quality.
Customised to you
The Theragun Pro has four arm positions so you can treat the area you want, how you want. There’s also an OLED screen to show you the speed you’re using (precisely calibrated between 1750-2400ppm) and a force meter for you to monitor how hard you’re pressing down. And if that wasn’t enough, the Theragun Pro connects via Bluetooth to their app, which contains guided massage routines and integrates with Apple Health and Google Fit. And there’s no need to worry about poor battery life because you get two interchangeable batteries that give you over 300 minutes of treatment time.
The final word
So, is the Theragun Pro worth it? We say YES. It’s a great warm up, recovery and treatment device that’s built to last. The upfront cost of a Theragun Pro can easily be justified when you think of the cost of physio and chiro sessions it can replace. It’s why some of the worlds biggest sporting names such as Christian Ronaldo, James Harden and even Red Bull racing all use Theraguns.