The 5 Best Handheld Percussion Back Massagers
To tell you the truth, I prefer the good old manual massage. Don’t you?
Nothing fancy, just a basic deep kneading massage.
However, most of us can’t afford regular massages to relieve our achy backs.
The good news is:
A handheld percussion back massager can serve the same purpose – in the comfort of your home – any time you need it.
(For a fraction of the cost)
✅ Looking for a massage gun? the 3 most popular ones compared – Hydragun vs. Theragun vs. Hypervolt
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In a hurry?
See our short comparison table, or jump to our percussion back massagers reviews
| Handheld Percussion Back Massager | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
Renpho Massager | 🥇 Best Value Percussion 3600 RPM! 5 attachments | ✅ $37 at Renpho |
Homedics Percussion Pro | Percussion & vibration Dual pivoting heads 3 attachments Timer | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
TheraRub | Percussion Dual head 3 attachments | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Vybe PRO | Percussion massage gun 5 attachments Cordless 4-hour battery | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Wahl 4290 | Percussion & vibration 7 attachments Heat option | ✅ Check Price on Amazon |
Electric handheld massagers not only extend one’s reach, but they offer techniques and sensations that are difficult or impossible to replicate with human hands.
But:
how do you find the best handheld personal massager without emptying your wallet?
We’ve done all the research for you, and found the 5 best handheld percussion massagers of 2022 – for quick relief from back pain, workout recovery, sciatica, back muscle spasms, muscle knots, and more.
Overview
How to Choose a Percussion Back Massager
When you look for the best percussion (shiatsu) handheld back massager, look for these important features:
1. Length and design of handle – the back massager handle should be easy to hold on to, otherwise, it’ll be difficult for you to reach and keep the massager over your sore muscles and trigger points. An ergonomic design is best.
2. Back massager total weight – on the one hand, more weight means more pressure on your back muscles, which is good.
On the other hand, a too-heavy personal massager can be difficult to hold for long, which means you’ll need a massage buddy to help you out every time.
3. Cord/Battery – we would recommend a corded personal massager, so you won’t have to change the batteries all the time, or a cordless massager with long battery life.
4. Heat Option – heat helps to relax the muscles and loosen them up faster, so infrared heat is an important feature in a handheld back massager.
5. Speed Settings – speed options are important because when the speed is too high it can get uncomfortable and painful, at least for some people.
6. Noise – a surefire way to destroy your experience is a horrible noise coming from the massager.
All percussion back massagers will be noisy to some point, but the best ones will not be too noisy to bear.
The 5 Best Handheld Back Massagers
They’re easy to operate, they can reach those unreachable sore spots in your back, and can immediately relax your back muscles, anywhere and anytime.
1. HoMedics Percussion Massager with Heat – Best for Deep Tissue
Homedics percussion massager with heat – view on Amazon
The Homedics back and shoulder Percussion Massager has dual pivoting heads, speed control, 3 attachments (Firm, gentle, and heat), and a good ergonomic handle.
The heads go in and out like hammers or pistons, you can pinpoint your sore muscle and give it a good shiatsu knead. There is a different button for vibration massage, with several levels.
The Homedics weighs only 2.5 pounds and has 4 speed levels to choose from.
( Read: The Top 8 vibrating foam rollers for back pain & workout recovery)
Through our research, we’ve found that the Homedics is a well-made personal hammer massager, and the power level does not decrease when you increase its level. Great for a healing and relaxing massage.
From all 5 massagers mentioned in this article, the Homedics handheld massager is the only one with an automatic timer, which makes it shut off after about 15 minutes.
Cons
Our research has found that this model is a replacement for an earlier model by the same company. According to consumers, the first one was heavier, better constructed, and lasted for many years.
Many of the users have pointed out this fact, but nonetheless, most users are satisfied with the current model as well.
✅ Price – $49 at Homedics, with free shipping, or check the price on Amazon
HYDRAGUN massage gun – check price at HYDRAGUN
2. Renpho Percussion Massager – Best Value
Renpho percussion massager – good value for the money
- Size: 15 x 3 x 4.5 inches
- Weight: 1.76 pounds
The Renpho cordless (100% portable) percussion massager offers a strong deep tissue massage you can use all over your body (back, shoulder, calf, feet, neck, arms, and thighs) – at home, in your office, on travel, or anywhere.
With 5 interchangeable attachments and a powerful motor (3600 pulses per minute), you can use it for almost 2.5 hours on a full charge.
The charged battery lasts for 2.5 hours
It won’t overheat thanks to the 20-minute auto shut-off feature, the handle is anti-slip, and the infrared heat feature is soothing and pain-relieving.
✅ Price – $37 at Renpho, or check the price on Amazon.
Get Your Free PDF The Complete Guide to Low Back Pain Relief – at Home!
3. TheraRUB Percussion Massager – Best for Muscle Spasms
- Size – 14 x 7 x 4 inches
- Weight – 3.22 Pounds
The TheraRUB electric massager is a full-size professional-strength percussion massager with dual head percussion massage and 3 massage heads.
The TheraRUB offers variable speed settings and has an extra-long 14-foot power cord.
This massager is not exactly quiet, but more like “moderately noisy”. Not unbearable though. But, if the sound is an issue for you, maybe you should go for one of the other options covered in this guide.
Cons
For some people, the TheraRUB percussion massager can get a bit heavy to use and some users say that the massage heads do not fit snugly, so you may find them falling off occasionally.
But, this inexpensive back massager is nothing but cheap. It’s a professional-grade back massager that can do wonders for your aching back.
✅ Price – best price on Amazon.
4. Exerscribe Vybe PRO – Best for Muscle Knots
Percussion massage gun – view on Amazon
The Vybe Pro professional massage gun is one of the highest-rated percussion massagers on Amazon, so we had to check it out.
Don’t miss out on the 5 best massage guns for back pain (2022reviews)
We found that it just may be the best and most powerful cordless percussion massager, and we highly recommend it to loosen back muscle knots and for workout recovery.
Here’s why:
With up to 3400 strokes per minute and 33 lbs max force, the Vybe PRO really feels like a powerful deep tissue massage.
It has 9 speed settings you can choose from, and the rechargeable battery lasts forever (or so it feels like, battery life is 4 hours per charge).
It comes with 5 attachments, made with rubber/soft plastic:
- Large Ball: for large muscle groups
- Flat Head: general use
- Bullet Head and Flat Head: Joints, deep tissue, and trigger points
- Fork Head: Neck and spine
The attachments serve a variety of needs and each one feels different than the other, and the massager is 50% quieter than most handheld massagers.
It comes with a convenient carrying case so you can take it with you anywhere – including the gym, travel, and work.
Here’s what you get inside:
You get a 30-day money-back guarantee and 2 years warranty, with great customer support.
Weight – weighs a little less than 2.5 lbs
Cons – too powerful to use on bare skin. Use it only with clothes on.
✅ Price – best price on Amazon.
5. Wahl All-Body Therapeutic Massager
Wahl All-Body Massager – view on Amazon
Wahl is a well-known manufacturer, family-owned since its founding in 1919.
Wahl back massagers are famous for being reliable. You know their products will last for years.
(I’ve had a Wahl handheld massager for 15 years before something went wrong with it…)
The Wahl handheld back massager is sturdy, and well made with a nice collection of attachments (7 of them, to be exact, including heat).
The various attachments make it possible to use it for anything from a light touch for facials to a deep tissue massage.
The massager is lightweight (2 pounds) and features an ergonomic handle.
The Wahl massager has 2-speed settings and a long cord.
The Wahl makes a soft humming noise, not too loud for anyone. But, it can get louder if you push down on it for long.
Cons – for some people, the relatively low weight can make it harder to get to the deep muscles and would require more pressure and more effort on your side.
✅ Price – check the price on Amazon
Check out our post about the 4 best full-body electric massage mats – if you want to cover more than your back in one massage, or the best massage pillow of 2022.
Percussion Back Massagers FAQ
What is a Percussion Massager?
A percussion massager is a handheld device that applies pulses of concentrated pressure deep into your muscle tissue. Deep tissue massage can quickly release knots and pain from muscles while boosting blood circulation and improving range of motion.
What Are the Benefits of a Percussion Massager?
Percussion massage boosts blood circulation to injured muscle tissues and lymphatic system, relaxes thickened connective tissue, helps to break down internal scar tissue, and increases range of motion and flexibility.
How Long Should I use a Percussion Massager?
We recommend using a handheld massager for no more than 20-30 seconds on each muscle area – for maximum results without overdoing it and injuring yourself.
What’s your experience with handheld back massagers? Did you own the all-time best one and want to share it with us? And which ones would you recommend staying away from?
To your health and happiness,
The Back Pain Relief Products Team
