If you’ve been to the gym recently – and by recently, we really mean in the last couple of years – there’s a good chance that you’ll have seen, heard, or perhaps even tried a Theragun. These handheld massage devices have appeared seemingly out of nowhere to become the latest must-have gadget among personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts, who praise them for their ability to rapidly soothe aching limbs and relieve tension. They’ve become increasingly popular during lockdown, too, with home workers using them to alleviate stiffness after long days hunched over a laptop, or even as a tool to relax and improve sleep.

For the uninitiated, though, what exactly is a Theragun? Well, think of it as a power drill for your muscles. But in a good way. Moving at speeds of up to 2,400 percussions per minute, it delivers an intense, high-frequency massage to targeted areas of the body. The technique, known as “percussive therapy”, promises to work faster and reach deeper into the tissue than a traditional massage, making it ideal for pro athletes, who rely on rapid recovery to aid their busy training schedules. No surprises, then, that the Theragun has proven popular with high-profile sports stars such as professional golfer Mr Collin Morikawa and the NFL’s Mr DeAndre Hopkins. Its profile has been boosted further by endorsements from the likes of Premier League footballer Mr Trent Alexander-Arnold, and has even received financial backing from ex-tennis champion Ms Maria Sharapova.

But its creator, Dr Jason Wersland, didn’t have the needs of celebrity athletes in mind when he first came up with the idea. In fact, by his own admission, he was acting purely out of self-interest. A motorcycle accident in 2007 had left the recently qualified chiropractor suffering from chronic muscle pain; after a long and fruitless search for effective treatment, he decided to take matters into his own hands. “I was my own first patient,” he says.

His initial prototype looked an awful lot like what it was: a DIY-modified power drill with a foam-tipped head. But despite its unassuming looks, the device worked. After using it to treat himself, he began introducing it to patients at his chiropractic clinic. When they began requesting it as part of their regular treatment, he knew he had a hit on his hands.

But even the most starry-eyed entrepreneur could hardly have foreseen just how popular it would become. In the four years since it launched to consumers, the Theragun has effectively birthed an entirely new product category – and inspired countless copycat brands. “We launched the ‘massage gun’ space,” says Dr Wersland, referring to the now bustling market for personal massage devices.

While Dr Wersland’s product was certainly innovative, it also had the benefit of arriving at a time when wellness and recovery were increasingly being seen as the secret to a well-balanced exercise regimen. Inspired by the incredible longevity of athletes such as Mr Tom Brady, more and more of us are now taking a holistic approach to working out – with a greater focus on nutrition, sleep and recovery techniques, such as foam rolling and cold exposure. It’s here, at the heart of the emerging wellness industry, that Dr Wersland has sought to position his growing company. 

With the launch of its fourth-generation product line-up, Theragun has evolved to become Therabody, an all-encompassing fitness and lifestyle brand, and the Theragun now comes in four different models, ranging from the professional-grade Theragun PRO all the way down to the portable Theragun mini. They’re joined by brand new products such as the Wave Roller, a foam roller with a built-in vibrating motor, plus a range of USDA-certified organic CBD products (which currently is only available in the US).

With the brand launching on MR PORTER, we asked the founder, Dr Wersland, to give us his top three tips for newcomers to percussive therapy.

“I developed the app protocols personally,” says Dr Wersland of the big new addition to fourth-generation Therabody devices: smart Bluetooth connectivity and a dedicated app. “I wanted our customers to feel like they were having an appointment with me every time they used their Theragun or Wave Roller.” The app offers tailored guidance for different activity levels, explaining the best speed, grip and attachments to use, and how long to spend on each area.

“Theragun should be used daily, regardless of activity level,” says Dr Wersland. “I use mine sometimes up to six times a day to relieve tension in my body.” While that might sound like overkill to some, the point is that you shouldn’t feel the need to limit yourself to a single session per day, or to only use your Theragun as a post-exercise cooldown. Instead, he says, “when you feel like you need it, you should use it.” His only caveat is to keep it moving rather than letting it linger for too long on any one area of the body.

Whenever a new fitness craze hits the market there will inevitably be those who see it as a replacement for, rather than an addition to, their usual exercise regimen. Just as the makers of sugar-free soft drinks warn us that their products only work as part of a calorie-controlled diet, so Dr Wersland advises against using a Theragun as if it were some kind of magic fitness wand. “Therabody products are just a piece of your wellness journey,” he explains. “It remains important to move your body, prioritise ergonomics, eat right and always stretch. Theragun is not a substitute for stretching.”