Many patients ask me for my opinion about the use of a massage gun for their neck and low back pain. My opinion is that it’s an economical and convenient option to temporarily relieve pain and soreness. It produces vibrations that travel through large nerve fibers classified as “A-beta fibers.” The electrical impulses from A-beta fibers travel faster than the C-fibers, which our bodies use to transmit pain signals. A classic example of this neuroscience is when you bump your knee into an object and rub it to decrease pain, because rubbing provides vibration that overrides the pain signal. So, if you have neck and low back pain, a massage gun can decrease pain by using the mechanism of vibration.

However, vibration can also trigger the mast cells in your skin to release histamine. Histamine is a chemical responsible for inflammation, and it can cause itchiness or hives. If you use one of these massage guns, you may find that after a longer period of use, your skin starts to feel itchy. That’s due to the histamine release. For people with sensitive skin, it’s important to be cautious and avoid causing too much irritation.

The best way to use a massage gun is intermittently and for short periods of time, so you get the benefits while minimizing skin irritation.