As my 20s come to an end at the end of this year, I’ve officially reached the age where sleeping in the wrong position or overstretching can cause aches and pains. I’ve always been somewhat skeptical of massage guns, mainly because I’ve tried some from other brands and assumed they’d eventually end up collecting dust in a drawer.
But after a few weeks of trying the Therabody Theragun Sense (2nd Generation)I was surprised. It turns out that massage guns aren’t as clever as I thought.
The Theragun Sense, which sells for $299, is a wellness-focused massage gun that’s designed for everyday aches, muscle tension, relaxation, and pain. It is more of a gentle massage and relaxation tool than an intense recovery massage gun.
If you’re looking for a deeper tissue massage, the Theragun PRO or Prime may be worth checking out. But if you don’t need a super-duty massage gun with features like heat therapy and deep tissue capabilities, the Theragun Sense is a great option for everyday use.
What I like most about the massage gun is that it has built-in, visually guided routines. The device comes with four routines and you can access additional routines through the Therabody app and sync your favorites to the device via Bluetooth.
Theragun Sense has an LCD screen that guides you step by step through routines. Once you select a routine, the screen shows you exactly where to use the massage gun, how much time to spend on each area, and how much pressure to apply.
As someone who never had a clue what to do with a massage gun other than point it at a sore muscle and hope for the best, I liked that Therabody Sense takes a lot of the guesswork out of using a massage gun.
My favorite routine was the six-minute “sleep” routine, which is essentially a quick full-body massage to get you ready for the night. The app allows you to choose from many other routines, such as “Pre-Walk Warm-Up”, “Desk Relief”, “Lower Back Recovery” and more.
The massage gun features five speeds to adjust the pressure to allow for a more relaxing touch, moderate pressure, or deeper tension release. I liked having the flexibility to change the intensity depending on the pain I was feeling that day.
Since the device is designed to be lightweight, I found it easy to hold and reach those harder-to-reach spots on my back and shoulders.
For people who want more personalization, the Therabody app takes the guided experience a step further with Coach, the company’s artificial intelligence feature that creates personalized recovery recommendations based on your goals and activity. The trainer can recommend which part of your body to work on, what settings or accessories to use, and when to include a recovery session in your day.
The relatively quiet motor was another feature I appreciated, as I could easily use the device while watching TV or relaxing without the sound of the massage gun acting as a distraction.
Theragun Sense comes with a USB-C charging cable, a travel bag, and two massage attachments: Standard Ball and Dampener, which is designed to target knots and sensitive areas. Separately, you can purchase the “Supersoft” accessory for $35 for extra sensitive areas of the body.
Overall, Theragun Sense (2nd generation) convinced me. It is easy to use, comfortable to hold, and notably takes the guesswork out of using a massage gun. At $299, it’s not cheap, but I think it’s a great option for people who want an everyday wellness device that can help them relax and recover.
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