How Massage Guns Can Help Relieve Pregnancy Pain

Stress on the lower back during pregnancy often leads to back (upper, middle, lower), sciatica, and leg pain. Can you use a massage gun while pregnant?

Pregnancy Massage Gun Use

Pregnant women often experience back, hip, and leg pain along with symptoms such as swelling (edema), muscle spasms, cramps, and fatigue, which interfere with daily functions and sleep. Pregnancy massage gun use is a safe and helpful form of stress and tension relief, so long as healthcare providers and safety precautions are followed and sensitive areas are avoided. Massage guns use percussion and vibration to create a form of massage that can relieve tension, stiffness, and muscle soreness, break up tissue adhesions, and reduce inflammation. Moreover, pregnancy massage can provide relaxation and pain relief for muscles and joints that are adapting to a growing, changing body. Traditional massage therapy and massage gun therapy have been shown to help reduce muscle soreness and pain. (Imtiyaz S., Veqar Z., & Shareef M. Y. 2014) The benefits of pregnancy massage gun use include:

• The release of relaxation hormones
• Decreased pain and stiffness
• Lower stress levels
• Better sleep (American Massage Therapy Association, 2011)

However, it is essential to discuss massage gun use with a healthcare professional and follow safety precautions when using massage guns during pregnancy.

Benefits

While there is no specific research on the benefits of massage guns for pregnant individuals, studies have demonstrated the general benefits of massage during pregnancy, including deep tissue massage. Therapeutic massage effectively reduces pregnancy discomforts and pain and is a safe and affordable method of pain relief. (El-Hosary EA, Abbas Soliman HF, El-Homosy SM. 2016) Researchers believe this relief helps improve the health of mother and baby in ways that include. (El-Hosary EA, Abbas Soliman HF, El-Homosy SM. 2016) (Mueller S. M., & Grunwald M. 2021)

• Improves cardiovascular health
• Overall circulation improves
• Increases serotonin and dopamine levels
• Decreases chronic back pain
• Relieves muscle aches and joint pains
• Improves sleep patterns
• Increases energy
• Reduces anxiety
• Increases immune response
• Enhances sense of well-being and mood
• Reduces risk of preterm delivery

Massage Gun Safety

Pregnancy massage gun use is generally safe for those who do not have preexisting conditions. (Mueller S. M., & Grunwald M. 2021) However, there are no studies on the safety of massage guns or other massage tools for pregnant individuals. It is recommended to discuss the use of massage guns with a doctor before use.

When to Avoid Massage Therapies

Pregnant individuals should avoid pregnancy massage of any kind if any of the following conditions are present (American Massage Therapy Association, 2018)

High-risk Pregnancy

• Individuals with high-risk factors, such as bleeding, pre-term contractions, and preeclampsia, should avoid using massage guns unless a doctor clears them to do so.

Preeclampsia

• This condition causes a rise in blood pressure that can be serious.
• It typically develops around 20 weeks of pregnancy or later.

Deep Vein Thrombosis – DVT

• Avoid using a massage gun if there is a history of deep vein thrombosis.
• Blood volume increases during pregnancy, and leg circulation can be poor.
• Certain hormones that prevent hemorrhage during delivery can cause blood to clot more easily.
• Using a massage gun on areas with potential blood clots may release the clot, leading to a life-threatening embolism. (Sutham K. et al., 2020)
• Compression socks are a better alternative for relieving leg pain and swelling, but follow the healthcare provider’s recommendations.

Placenta Previa, Accrete, or Abruption

• These conditions involve the placenta, which can lead to bleeding.

Gestational Diabetes

• High blood sugar levels do not necessarily mean individuals cannot use a massage gun during pregnancy.
• However, speak to a doctor and monitor blood sugar before use.

How to Use

Although there are no specific expert directions for the use of massage guns during pregnancy, there are guidelines to consider while using the device. This includes:

• Never place the massage gun directly over bones, nerves, or joints.
• Avoid using the device around injured, swollen, or painful areas.
• Avoid using a massage gun directly on the abdomen.

Additional Tips (Hospital for Special Surgery, 2021)

• Start by trying a light 10- to 15-second pass over sore or tight areas.
• Perform three to five sweeps over the location, then move on to another.
• Be careful not to keep the gun on a single area too long, as you could overwork the muscle, leading to bruising and irritation.
• The recommended time for leaving the massager in one area is two minutes.
• Stop using the massage gun if there is unusual pain, sensations, or discomfort.

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic

Massage during pregnancy can help relieve symptoms such as anxiety, stress, pain, discomfort, tightness, and poor circulation. Regular massage can help improve sleep and can even benefit the baby. However, it is recommended to consult with a doctor about using a massage gun before trying it out. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can help individuals recover and regain the benefits of quality rest through healthy sleep practices and lifestyle accommodations. We build optimal health and wellness solutions with primary healthcare providers and specialists. We focus on what works for you to relieve pain, restore function, prevent injury, and help mitigate issues through adjustments that help the body realign itself. They can also work with other medical professionals to integrate a treatment plan to resolve musculoskeletal problems.

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Pregnancy and Sciatica: How Chiropractic Helped

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References

Imtiyaz, S., Veqar, Z., & Shareef, M. Y. (2014). To Compare the Effect of Vibration Therapy and Massage in Prevention of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR, 8(1), 133–136. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2014/7294.3971

American Massage Therapy Association. (2011). Pregnancy Massage. https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/massage-and-pregnancy/

El-Hosary EA, Abbas Soliman HF, El-Homosy SM. (2016). Effect of Therapeutic Massage on Relieving Pregnancy Discomforts. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science., 5(4), 57-64. https://doi.org/10.9790/1959-0504025764

Mueller, S. M., & Grunwald, M. (2021). Effects, Side Effects and Contraindications of Relaxation Massage during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(16), 3485. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163485

American Massage Therapy Association. (2018). Massage and pregnancy: A powerful combination. https://www.amtamassage.org/publications/massage-therapy-journal/massage-and-pregnancy-a-powerful-combination/

Sutham, K., Na-Nan, S., Paiboonsithiwong, S., Chaksuwat, P., & Tongsong, T. (2020). Leg massage during pregnancy with unrecognized deep vein thrombosis could be life-threatening: a case report. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 20(1), 237. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02924-w

Hospital for Special Surgery. Surgery, H. F. S. (2021). What you should know about using a massage gun. https://www.hss.edu/article_how-to-use-massage-gun.asp