It's safe to use a massage gun on your neck, but it may feel uncomfortable, and you might get a headache if the pressure is too strong.
Before you begin using the massage gun on your neck, you must first understand how your muscles are connected in order to effectively treat them.
In this article, we'll go over how to effectively treat your neck muscles with a massage gun and relieve them of daily pain complaints.
Safety of Using a Massage Gun on the Neck
To safely use the massage gun on your neck, you need to know what areas to avoid and how to massage the right spot to release the neck muscles.
There are things you need to pay attention to when using the massage gun on the neck.
So, let's take a look at massage gun safety first.
Pay attention to the most important safety part when using a massage gun on the neck
The most important thing to know is how to massage. First of all, skip the front of your neck. This area has many nerves, which can be damaged easily.
You should also avoid massaging your throat because it contains tons of blood vessels and nerves.
Also, pay close attention to the carotid artery. This is the main artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the brain. If you accidentally hit the carotid artery while massaging the neck, you could cause serious damage.
You should only focus on your neck muscles and not your head or face. If you have any problems with your neck, most of the time they're coming from the trapezius muscle.
The trapezius is the largest muscle in your back, so look there first when looking for trouble spots.The trapezius connects to your neck, and that's the spot to massage.
We will cover the trapezius and how to massage it further in this article.
Consider your health conditions
If you have any health condition like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, etc., then you should consult your doctor before using the massage gun on neck.
If you have a blood clot condition, you should also ask a medical professional if you can use the massage gun on your neck or not.
Most likely, you will be able to use the massage gun without any problems. However, it's always a good idea to double-check with your doctor.
Daily neck massage with a massage gun
As we recommend for any other muscle, the recommendation for the neck is to massage it every day.
Your neck is one of the most used parts of your body. So, it's very important to keep it healthy.
If you don't do anything about your neck, it will become stiff and sore. That's why you should always try to massage it regularly.
This will reduce your chances of injury and help your body relax.
Benefits of Massaging the Neck Using a Massage Gun
There are many benefits to getting a neck massage regularly. Massaging your neck will help you to improve your posture, it will make your shoulders more relaxed and less tense, and you'll feel better overall, but let's explore these and other benefits in detail.
It improves circulation and relaxes you
Massaging the neck is an easy way to improve your blood circulation. Blood circulation is very important; remove lactic acid as quickly as possible from the muscles and let your body relax.
By using percussive therapy, you could speed up this process.
That will ensure you feel less pain and recover faster from a full day working behind your desk.
It increases blood flow to the brain
Your brain also needs blood flow to function properly. By increasing blood flow to your brain, you'll increase its oxygen supply.
This will help your brain work better and faster.
It relieves stress and tension
Stress is something that affects us all. When you're stressed, your body produces cortisol, a hormone that makes you more tense.
But, by relaxing your muscles, you'll reduce the amount of cortisol produced.
So, by regularly massaging your neck, you'll reduce the stress levels in your body.
It relieves headaches
The neck muscles are attached to your head. When your neck muscles are under tension for a long time, they contract.
This contraction causes headaches. Also called tension headaches.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. And also the most inexplicable at first.
But the problem is actually in the muscle attached to the scalp.
So, if you want to get rid of these headaches, you should start massaging your neck muscles.
In this way, you release the high tension in your neck muscles (trapezius) and release the contraction into your scalp.
It fights fatigue
Muscles become fatigued when they are tightened all day.
And when your muscles get tired, you naturally get tired yourself. It also works the other way around: when you are mentally exhausted (burnout), stress also builds up in your muscles, causing them to become tired.
Everything is in contact with each other, from mind to muscle.
So it is extremely important to take care of your muscles as much as possible; otherwise, there is a chance that you will end up with a burnout.
To prevent this, you could use a percussion massager and massage the muscle tissue for 5 minutes a day, that's enough!
If you want to know more massage gun benefits, please read this article.
Alternatives To Release Your Neck Tension
If you do not have access to a massage gun or cannot afford one, there are some other options for relieving neck tension.
Keep in mind that having a massage gun would bring you a lot more benefits, plus you would save money because you wouldn't have to spend money on massage therapy, creams, or oils.
But here are some alternative ways to relieve your neck tension.
Take a warm shower or bath
Another alternative to relieving your neck tension is to take a warm shower or bath. This will relax your muscles and allow your body to breathe deeply.
Try to stay relaxed while doing so.
You can also add some essential oils to your bath water. They have natural properties that will calm your nerves and make you feel relaxed.
Put ice packs on your neck
You can fight pain with heat, but you can also fight it with cold.So when you prefer to choose cold, choose an ice pad.
The coldness will relax your muscles and give you relief.
However, be careful not to apply too many ice packs because it may cause damage to your skin.
You can see many people using ice packs to treat their neck pain. But remember that ice packs work best when applied directly to the affected area.
Just remember to not put direct ice on your skin because it can cause frostbite. Instead, buy gel pads. They are safe and effective. You can find them at any drugstore.
Use a heating pad
A heating pad is another good option to relieve your neck tension, especially if you suffer from arthritis.
Heating pads are very useful for treating arthritis. You can find them everywhere.
They come in different sizes and shapes. The size depends on how big your neck is.
Furthermore, the shape is determined by the type of pressure required.For example, if you need a flat surface, you can buy a rectangular-shaped heating pad.
If you need something rounder, you can buy a circular-shaped heating pad.
When you put the heating pad on your neck, you should place it on top of your collarbone.
This is where most of the tension lies.
When you do this, you will notice that your neck feels lighter and less tense.
Doing this regularly will help you reduce your neck tension.
Go for a walk
If you don't have any time to go for a walk, then just do it anyway. Walking releases endorphins, which are our body's own natural painkillers.
Walking also helps to clear your mind and relax your body.
Exercise done regularly has been proven to improve mental health.
Stretch your arms
Your arms are one of the largest muscles in your body. If you stretch your arm muscles, you will increase their flexibility and strength.
Also, stretching your arms will help you keep your shoulders back.
When you keep your shoulder blades pulled back, your upper back is supported, and your posture looks good.
This will release your tight neck muscles for a short period of time.
It is not possible to completely release your neck from pain. But it is a good way to release them for a short period of time.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is very important for us. When we're well-rested, we perform better.
We also recover faster after being sick.
Therefore, getting enough sleep is crucial for our physical and mental health.
Unfortunately, people often neglect their sleep schedules.
They try to cram everything into one night and end up sleeping less than 6 hours per night.
This leads to exhaustion and poor performance during the next few days.
But if you want to avoid these problems, you should aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
How to Properly Use a Massage Gun on Your Neck
Before you start using the massage gun on your neck, you need to know how your trapezius is connected to your neck.
As you can see in this image, the trapezius is forming a diamond shape. It starts in the middle of your back, goes all the way up to your shoulder blades, and then comes up high in your neck.
So if you have pain in your neck, it's not just your neck muscles. Usually your whole trapezius is high in tension, even your shoulder (shoulder pain).
There are many physical therapists who call this chronic pain.
A common reason is working at a computer or doing heavy work, and this causes muscle knots to form.
To release the pain in your neck, all you have to do is take your massage gun and massage the whole trapezius. By starting at the middle of your back at the lower trapezius.
Of course be aware to avoid bones, because that's uncomfortable.
All you have to do is follow the muscle, to both sides and slowly to the neck.
You will notice that the neck has a little more impact (vibrations) in your head.But as long as you only massage the muscle, this will not have a negative effect.
Continue massaging for about 4-5 minutes on the slowest setting.You may, of course, increase or decrease the intensity as you wish.
In this way, you massage your neck in the best way and create soft tissue.
Use the right massage gun neck attachment
The massage gun comes with different massage heads (attachment heads). The standard ball is common for larger muscles, so it is very good to use for the trapezius.
The fork attachment is recommended for use around the vertebra and Achilles tendon. So in this case, you can also use the fork attachment to move around the vertebra.
The ball attachment is the one that feels most comfortable and is most recommended.
If you experience very tight muscle knots, the bullet attachment is the best choice. With this attachment, you can go for a strong massage.
Set the pressure and speed of your massage gun
When you first get your massage gun, you'll find out what the ideal setting for your massage gun is.
It depends on your own preferences. If you prefer a stronger massage, you can set the pressure higher.
On the other hand, if you prefer a softer massage, you can set it lower.
However, keep in mind that if you're new to using percussion massage guns, your body is not used to it and it takes time to adapt.
So don't overdo it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the frequently asked questions about using a massage gun on the neck are:
What is the best muscle massage gun for the neck?
The best percussive massagers for deep tissue massage on your neck must be self-contained. There is not always someone around who can act like a massage therapist.
The Fusion Elite is one of the best percussion massage guns available because the arm is adjustable, making it simple to massage your own neck.
Most of the massage guns on the market are not adjustable, and that's the reason why the Fusion Elite is such a high-quality device.
It will provide you with a professional massage experience on your own!
The Fusion also features an adjustable intensity level, so you could choose your own type of massage. From a soft, relaxing warming-up massage to a powerful massage.
Is a massage gun good for a stiff neck?
Yes, a massage gun is great for any kind of neck problems. If you have a stiff neck, you should start with a gentle massage.
Then gradually increase the massage level until you reach the desired level.
So if you woke up with a stiff neck, then you should start your day with a real massage by the professional physical therapist called "Fusion".
There will be no more muscle pain, tension, neck pain, or onset muscle soreness.
How often should I do neck massages?
Our advice is to use your handheld massager every day. Particularly if you have tight knots in your shoulder or neck muscles.
You can take care of your neck muscles every morning before going to work or school.
Or, even better, you can use your percussive massage at night after dinner. This way, you will be able to relax your neck muscles and prevent them from getting tighter.
This will help you avoid stiffness and pain during the next few days.
A massage session a day, keeps the sore muscles and the doctor away!
How long does it take to alleviate pain in my neck if I use a massage gun?
If you use a massage gun regularly, you'll notice an improvement within just a few minutes.
However, if you want to see results faster, you must perform multiple sessions.
In order to achieve maximum benefits, you should perform a minimum of 3 to 5 sessions per week.
And remember, the longer you wait, the harder it gets. So make sure you follow our advice and provide yourself with a massage therapy or physical therapy program.
Should I use a massage gun if I have arthritis in my neck?
Arthritis (chronic neck pain) in the neck is usually caused by poor posture while sitting down all day.
Therefore, you should try to change your position as much as possible.
Try to sit upright instead of slouching back. And try to stand up straight whenever you get up from your chair.
Also, you should stretch your neck muscles regularly.
But you could also try to relax the muscles in your neck and shoulders by using a massage gun.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we would like to say that a massage gun is a great tool to relieve high tensed muscles in your neck. Follow the pattern of the trapezius muscle, and this will lead to a fully relaxed neck.
Our advice is to provide yourself with a neck and shoulder massage 3-5 times a week at a minimum.
Important to avoid the front part of the neck and your bones.
The Fusion Elite is one of the best high end handheld massage guns out there, which gives you the possibility to massage your own neck and shoulders.
And that's how you should massage your neck!
