The Best Handheld Massagers for Tightness and Body Aches

You are reading our guide on the best handheld massagers for relieving tightness and aches in 2023.

Whether you’re an athlete, you spend a lot of time at a work desk or you just want a simple way to relieve stress, massage is key to improving your health and well-being.

There are many types of body massagers on the market, some are manual which requires some work on your part, however, on the other hand, there are electric massagers which do most of the hard work.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at electric massagers you can use on your whole body, in particular the type that are called ‘percussion’ massagers.

A percussion massager is an electric device that you hold over different parts of your body to administer a massage.

It’s unique from different types of massagers because it delivers a ‘hammer’ type of massage rather than a rolling one you’d get with a shiatsu massager.

If you’re looking for a type of massager to relax muscles, get the blood circulation flowing and give a certain amount of pain relief, a percussion massager could be what you are looking for.

This guide has everything you should know about handheld percussion massagers and the best ones on the market.

Before I start this guide, if you are someone who wants a lot of power, and for your body massager to reach deep into the muscles for a more rigorous massage, then you’ll be better off with a massage gun rather than the type I am going to review in this post.

Massage guns are particularly popular among athletes and people who work out often for recovery, deep tissue massage and trigger point relief.

Luckily, I have also covered a buying guide for these types of body massagers too.

Related: The Best Massage Guns

If you are looking for something gentler and relaxing then stay on this page.

I take a look at the best body massagers on the market and give you a glimpse of the one that I eventually chose as my own personal device.

We’ll start with what electric percussion body massagers are, how they work and the benefits you can expect from them.

What to Look for When Choosing a Handheld Massager

Here are some things you should consider when choosing the best body massager for you:

Comfort and Ease of Use

Your handheld massager should be easy to grip and allow you to reach almost any area without strain.

This means body massagers with a long handle will be advantageous as they can also act as a back massager also.

In addition, it should be durable enough to last and have a well-balanced weight.

You do not want it to be so heavy that it’s tiring to use and at the same time so light that the massager lacks power.

Power

You want your percussion massager to have a strong motor so that it applies a decent amount of pressure rather than a mere “buzz” that only massages on the surface.

Most muscle pain and tension are rooted deep in the tissue, so handheld massagers need plenty of horsepower to penetrate sufficiently.

Percussion Mechanism

The percussion mechanism on a handheld massager, often called a “hammer,” should be strong enough to penetrate your muscles for a deep tissue massage and transfer the vibration from the devices motor, all the way into your muscle tissue.

If the percussion mechanism is too flimsy, the power from the motor doesn’t go far.

Cordless Design

Percussion massagers that are cordless are easier and more convenient to use than a wired one.

There is nothing worse than having to constantly untangle cords from your body as you are using your percussion massager.

Whilst cordless percussion massagers are more convenient to use over wired ones, you also want to make sure that you are not compromising power. 

Battery-powered massagers may naturally possess less power than a wired one.

Heat Option

While you don’t need heat to get a good massage, research shows that the application of heat during a massage improves pain relief [2].

Some handheld massagers offer a heating feature, while most of them don’t. If you feel like you want to add some heat to your massage, then make sure that you choose a massager with heat.

Range of Different Percussion Heads

Percussion massagers will usually come with a variety of different attachments that you can use to alter up the type of massage you receive.

Make sure your final choice offers a good variety of options as you’ll need to use different ones depending on which body part you are massaging.

The Top 10 Best Handheld Massagers in 2023

If you suffer from muscle pain or tightness, trying out percussion therapy with a handheld massager is worth a try.

Let’s take a look at 10 of the best percussion massagers on the market today.

The Pure Wave CM-07 handheld percussion massager gives you six different attachments that are made to use on different parts of your body and to treat different types of pain.

In addition to its regular percussion mode, it also has a facial vibration mode that lets you gently massage your temples, scalp, face and jaw.

Because of this feature, it’s a good choice if you suffer from jaw tension or TMJ, or if you get tension headaches.

It has a padded attachment you can use to protect bones from the percussion mechanism as you guide the massager along your muscles.

It’s also perfect if you are looking for a back massager.

The drawback to the Pure Wave CM-07 is that users have reported that its battery gets weaker with regular use, which eventually means you can only use it for a short massage before you need to set it aside and let it charge again.

It’s also pricier than most competitors.

That being said, it is generally viewed as the best all-rounder percussion massager on the market.

The RENPHO Rechargeable massager lets you change between 5 different attachments for different percussion effects.

Two of them are firm, round attachments that help you get a deeper, firmer massage if you need something more intense to work out a muscle knot.

There are also 3-point heads that give you a wider area of percussion therapy.

Unfortunately, many users find this massager heavy and hard to hold for longer massages.

Its vibration also doesn’t have as much horsepower as its competitors, but its attachments are quite firm on the muscles.

If you’re looking for something with great vibration this may not be the massager for you.

On the plus side, this device is an extremely popular percussion massager and is seen as a viable option if you do not want to spend as much on the Pure Wave percussion massagers.

The Nursal massager is one of the most affordable percussion massagers on the market.

You can adjust its percussion speed and choose between 6 different attachment heads. It also has a heat function to loosen up your muscles even more.

It doesn’t use a battery, so it needs to be plugged in during use. This, of course, makes it a lot less convenient to use than a cordless massager.

Although less portable, a wired body massager will have less issues with battery and charge status.

Many users also found it too large and heavy, and the heat function is prone to giving out with use.

The Brookstone Max 2 is made with aluminium which makes it elegant and more durable, but also costs more than most percussion massagers.

Although it’s battery-powered, its battery lasts longer than other massagers such as the RENPHO Rechargeable, as the Brookstone gives you 3 hours before you have to charge it.

You can customize your massage and regulate the intensity by choosing between 5 speeds and 3 massage programs.

The head of this percussion massager is larger than most, which lets you massage a larger area at a time but makes it harder to target precise trigger points.

If you want a massager that provides simple percussion therapy, the dual-node massager with 3 different massage styles is more than what you’re looking for.

The Purewave percussion massager comes in two models and this is the CM5 version which is the model down from the CM07 version.

Like the Brookstone massager, the Pure Wave CM5 has a long battery life, giving you up to 3 hours of use.

Its small size, light weight and curved ergonomic design makes it easy and comfortable to reach your back.

In spite of its size, the Pure Wave CM5 massager has a powerful motor that delivers a strong pulse. You can also change between different nodes and percussion speeds to customize your massage.

So what’s the difference between this model and the CM-07?

Like the Pure Wave CM-07, this model is costly compared to other percussion massagers, but it’s less expensive than the CM-07 model.

The CM5 has one less motor than the dual motor of the CM-07, and comes with 3 fewer attachments than the CM-07.

The CM-07 possesses the facial massage function at the other end of the massager whilst the CM5 does not.

Overall, this massager is well-built and a powerful effective option.

Like the Nursal massager, the HoMedics percussion massager also provides a heat function to loosen stiff muscles. However, it’s more reliable and made to last.

The HoMedics massager is more expensive than the Nursal, but generally at a lower price point compared to most percussion massagers.

You can customize your massage by swapping between nodes, and it provides 3 different styles of percussion massage.

If you’re looking for something more than just percussion, its two pivoting heads can deliver a kneading-style of massage.

At 2 ½ pounds, it’s on the heavier side compared to other massagers.

The Viktor Jurgen massager is also in the more affordable category.

It’s made with a rubber grip to prevent it from slipping out of your hand.

However, many users find it’s better to have someone help you, and that it’s too clunky and inaccurate for use as a self-massager.

It’s not a cordless massager, so you need to have it plugged in while using it, which makes it even more awkward if you’re using it for self-massage.

As a double-head massager, it’s designed to imitate a masseuse’s hands.

While it may be too large and awkward for some, depending on your size and strength, you may find it works as a self-massager.

The Vivreal percussion massager comes with 6 different massage heads, and you can choose between 6 different speeds of percussion.

Thus, there’s plenty of customization for use on various body parts, though its classic design provides you an over-the-shoulder reach for massaging your upper or lower back.

One of the nodes has several conical nodes that works well for scalp massaging.

It has a powerful motor and an ergonomic grip. The battery runs for 100 minutes before it needs recharging.

Since the device is cordless it’s an ideal massager to bring on the go and use when you need a boost in circulation and some relief from pain.

Some users found that the Vivreal’s massage heads, which are made of hard plastic, felt too painful.

Others, on the other hand, appreciated its ability to knead out tough muscle knots.

All in all, it’s a powerful device that has received tons of raving reviews.

Whereas the Vivreal massager has harder massage heads, the Wahl percussion massager does feature a massage head with softer padding, similar to the PureWave’s air cushion attachment.

You can easily increase or lower the device’s speed settings while you’re using it, by scrolling the dial on its grip.

It also has a unique massage head designed to work along the muscles on either side of your spine and lower back.

The head has two small nodes and a hollow in between, so that you can massage the muscles around your spine without hurting the bone.

The Flex X massage head is another uniquely shaped node with grooves and ridges that help with myofascial release over a wide surface area.

Some users found it too heavy to use for longer periods, and others had problems gripping it because of the grip’s vibration.

While it is cordless, some users have complained it’s less powerful than corded massagers they’ve used.

The Thumper Mini Pro has a patented percussive action designed to penetrate all fascial layers to relieve muscle tension and sore muscles.

Instead of having interchangeable massage heads, it has one permanent massage head with two spheres that are anatomically designed for use on muscle groups in your back, shoulders, legs and feet.

If you’re looking for a corded massager that provides robust percussion power that cordless body massagers may not offer, the thumper mini pro is for you. It runs on a heavy-duty DC motor.

The company claims that 95% of the device’s energy is directed right into your muscle tissue.

On the downside, the device doesn’t feature a very ergonomic design.

The grip is made of hard, rectangular plastic, rather than a rubber ergonomic grip. With the weight of the massage head, it can be difficult to handle with control and comfort.

The Best Handheld Massager

While it may be one of the pricier options, the Pure Wave CM-07 rises above the rest as a handheld body massager for giving you the most options, strong motor and comfort of use.

You have to be careful not to hurt yourself with a percussion massager, because hitting a bone could cause bruising and the CM-07 has an attachment head option that helps prevent against this.

The Pure Wave CM-07 gives you protection against this with an attachable pad that helps guide your motion safely.

You do get your money’s worth because with just one device you can get several different massage styles all over your body by interchanging the percussion heads and switching between modes.

The CM-07 is unique in that it possesses a completely different head at the bottom of the massager for effective facial massages.

The fact that you can safely use this percussion massager on your face to relieve stress and tension makes it truly unique.

The Purewave is also incredibly powerful despite the fact that it is a cordless massager.

If you are serious about getting a good effective percussion massager then the Purewave CM-07 is your best bet as it’s been used and recommended by countless professionals.

Related: Purewave Percussion Massager Review

Other Types of Massage Products

Perhaps a percussion massager isn’t what you are looking for?

In this case, take a look at these other similar types of products.

Massage Pillows

Shiatsu massage pillows are small massagers that typically work by kneading muscles with small rolling balls, and some of them have a heating feature to better loosen muscles. These types of massagers are perfect for lower back pain relief.

Some massage pillows also have a vibration feature.

Percussion massagers are different because they have a narrow point of pressure that vibrates, as opposed to the whole pillow moving. Therefore if you want a more general massage over larger areas of muscle a shiatsu pillow may be more appropriate.

Massage pillows are easily portable and are generally in the same price range as a percussion massager.

Related: The Best Massage Pillows

Massage Chair Pads

Shiatsu massage chair pads massage your back when you sit in a chair or on a couch, which makes them convenient at a work desk.

To use one you simply place the large pad over your favourite chair.

They generally have rolling balls that knead muscles, but many also feature vibration and heating options.

When it comes to self-massage tools, these massagers are at the more expensive end of the spectrum, however, they can do wonders for people looking for back pain relief.

Related: The Best Massage Chair Pads

TENS Unit

A TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit consists of pads you adhere to your muscles in order to relieve pain.

The TENS unit works by emitting electrical currents that contract and relax the muscles, stimulating nerve endings and interrupting pain signals that are sent to your brain.

As far as pricing goes, the TENS unit is more comparable to a percussion massager.

It’s most convenient for people managing chronic pain, as opposed to people with sore or tight muscles looking to recover or relax.

Related: The Best TENS Unit

Massage Sticks

A Trigger point massage stick is a tool that helps you massage yourself accurately and deeply, whether you need it on your back, neck, shoulders or anywhere else.

They’re less expensive than most other massage tools and are easy to transport.

Although they take more effort to use compared to something like a massage chair pad, massage sticks work well for people with specific pain points and muscle knots that need to be worked out, as opposed to people who just want to relax.

Related: The Best Massage Sticks

Why Choose an Electric Handheld Massager?

A handheld percussion massager is a tool you can use independently to relieve muscle pain and tightness wherever and whenever you need to.

It’s electric but portable, and if other types of massagers haven’t worked for you, a percussion massager could be well worth a try.

A typical massage uses pressure and kneading to work out muscle knots and restore blood flow to tight muscles with this type of action being particularly common among the home shiatsu massagers.

Percussion massagers are totally different in their actions.

Percussion massagers provide another form of massage therapy called percussion therapy (sometimes called vibration massage therapy).

Percussion therapy consists of rapid pulses that apply pressure and vibrate the muscle tissues, boosting blood flow and relaxing your muscles.

The benefits of increased circulation allow oxygen and nutrients to enter muscle tissue and toxins to be carried out. This way, tissue damage gets repaired and muscle function is improved.

This is how percussion therapy relieves pain and enhances muscle flexibility, range of motion and performance.

Who Can Benefit from Percussion Therapy?

Percussion therapy helps your muscles recover faster from strenuous exercise, which can help you perform better in sports and get more workouts in each week.

It also reduces your risk of injury when used after exercise because it softens stiff tissue and breaks down adhesions helping with muscle soreness.

In addition to athletes and anyone with an intense workout regimen, percussion therapy can also benefit people who have stiff, tight muscles but find more traditional forms of massage too painful.

Percussion therapy is able to penetrate deep muscle tissue without the need for painful pressure because it works by gradually shocking the muscle fibres to break up tension until the tissue is fully penetrated [1].

Anyone who sits for a long time at a desk can also benefit from percussion therapy, as well as people with chronic back pain and stiffness.

Before this article ends it’s important to remind you that when you purchase a new self-massage device, it’s always important to read the instructions thoroughly and consult with a physical therapist or other professional if you need additional advice.

It may also take some time to get the best out of your percussion body massager as it takes time to work out the best way to use it on your own body.

However, over time, you’ll start to see the benefits of using your percussion massager.