Nobody likes painful knots camping out in their back. I get them all the time beneath my shoulder blades, and nothing works them out faster than a good massager. You are now entering my guide on choosing the best massager for muscle knots. In this guide, I share a variety of options that effectively eliminate knots quickly, from massage guns to manual devices to fit any budget.
After the Top 5 list, be sure to stick around for the reviews to get a closer look at each of the massagers in my Top 5 and pick up some helpful tips along the way. Let’s get started with my Top 5 chart below.
Product | Description |
#1) Opove M3 Pro |
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#2) LifePro Sonic |
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#3) Renpho Rechargeable Handheld Deep Tissue Massager |
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#4) Snailax Handheld Cordless Massager with Heat |
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#5) Body Back Trigger Point Massager |
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Best Massager for Muscle Knots Reviews
Muscle knots require trigger point therapy or strong percussion massage techniques from a massage gun for the most effective relief. Whether you choose an electric massager or a manual massager like the Body Back Buddy comes down to your preference. The advantage of a massage gun is that it does all the work for you and has the capacity to deliver thousands of pulses per minute to your knots. Additionally, massage guns and other handheld units typically include attachments that are specifically designed for relieving knots.
In each section below, I share the highlights of each of the massagers in my Top 5 along with the pros & cons of owning each. By the end of the reviews, you’ll have a deeper understanding of what makes the best massager for muscle knots and which unit is the right choice for you.
Opove M3 Pro
The Opove M3 Pro is one of the most beloved and effective massage guns for home use currently on the market. With its power and included attachments, it’s a certified knot destroyer that can tackle even the toughest knots beneath the shoulder blades. The M3 Pro includes 4 different attachments all designed for different parts of the body and massage techniques, along with an attractive carrying case.
Choose between three different massage intensities to warm up, relax, or mimic a real human deep tissue massage. The built-in rechargeable battery provides up to a full 3 hours of massage power per charge, meaning you’ll never need to stop mid-massage on a full charge. One of the greatest features of the M3 Pro is its quiet operation. At just 39 dB, it’s quieter than moderate rainfall and most conversations.
The 12 mm stroke length is optimal for treating aching muscles and deep muscle knots. After 10 minutes, the M3 Pro automatically shuts down to avoid overheating and prolonging the life of the gun. The final highlight is the Breakthrough Technology that protects the gun against drops from up to 6.6 ft using Nylon 66 and glass fiber materials.
- The case is very nice, and the attachments are built with high-quality materials
- An excellent massage gun for relieving shoulder tension between deep tissue massage therapy treatments
- Strong enough to relieve muscle knots without being too noisy
- Effectively soothes deep, hard-to-reach muscle knots in the back
- Relaxes muscles like a champ
- Extremely easy to use
- A superb neck massager for relieving tension
- Recommended by active people for use after the gym or exercise
- Awesome battery life
- The handle design could be a bit better
- May cause discomfort when massaging bony areas
- Several reported problems with charging the unit
- It may feel a bit heavier than you’d like
LifePro Sonic
The LifePro Sonic massage gun is very similar to the M3Pro with some different features that you might like more. Compared to the M3 Pro’s 3 massage intensity levels, the LifePro Sonic massager offers 5 levels of intensity. Additionally, you may prefer the ergonomic handgrip of the Sonic unit more than the M3 Pro. An impressive feature of the Sonic is its 6-hour max battery life when used on lower intensity levels. This is a good chunk longer than what the M3 Pro offers.
As far as noise, the LifePro Sonic does have a higher dB rating of 55 – 75 dB than the M3 Pro. The max strokes per minute are 3,000 RPM compared to the M3 Pro’s 3,200. The Sonic massager includes 5 total attachments. The “Bullet” attachments are specifically designed for trigger points and to release muscle knots.
One clear advantage of buying the LifePro Sonic is the lifetime warranty. Since massage guns aren’t cheap, this is a key feature to look for before you buy one. During my search, I noticed that several other popular models don’t mention a warranty in the product description. This left people with broken units searching for warranty information. With the LifePro Sonic massager, you don’t have to worry about getting hung out to dry.
- It does an awesome job of breaking up muscle knots in the back
- Effectively relieves stressed areas and uncomfortable muscle tightness
- Has the power to relieve big shoulder muscle knots that cause muscle spasms
- Works almost immediately
- A great massage for muscle knots in calf muscles
- The attachments are quite useful for use throughout the body for targeting different muscle groups
- An incredibly versatile massager
- Feels very soothing and good against the skin
- Top-quality materials and build, excellent value for the money
- It may feel bulkier than you’d like
- Several reported problems with the battery
- It’s too heavy for some
- Some loud unit reports
Renpho Rechargeable Handheld Deep Tissue Massager
This fantastic massager by Renpho is a big step down in price compared to the massage guns above, and it’s also one of the best lower back massagers, especially for the money. Renpho’s handheld massager comes with a total of five attachments. The 1-point head attachment is excellent for trigger point massage and relieving muscle knots on a daily basis. For a very affordable price, this unit offers up to 140 minutes of massage power per charge, which is more than the comparable Snailax handheld unit offers.
Additionally, the Renpho massager offers up to a whopping 3,600 pulses per minute for a highly-effective vibrating massage built to tackle even the toughest muscle knots. One thing I really like about this unit is it delivers a 20-minute massage before automatically shutting off. This is 10 minutes longer than what most massage guns offer.
Other highlights of the Renpho handheld massager include a comfort-grip silicone handle, easy-to-read adjustment buttons, different intensity levels, a 1-year warranty, and a lightweight design to make it easy for almost anyone to use.
- Effectively relieves shoulder knots in just minutes
- Recommended for relieving knots in the back and legs
- A good handheld electric neck massager for pesky knots
- Super easy to use
- The pressure is perfect, and the ability to adjust the intensity is great
- The cordless design makes it so convenient to use at any time
- Painful knots in the back are no match for the Renpho handheld massager
- Awesome to use for the whole family
- Recommended for relieving muscle soreness and stiffness after a hard gym session
- The pressure may not feel strong enough to relieve the toughest knots
- Several defective unit reports
- Reports about the unit not holding a charge after several uses
- You might not like the plastic attachments
Snailax Handheld Cordless Massager with Heat
One feature that really sets the Snailax handheld massager apart from its competitors is the heat function. If you’re someone who prefers a heated massage, this is the best handheld unit to relieve muscle knots. One thing to keep in mind is that the heat is only for use without the included 4 attachments.
The thing I like the most about the Snailax handheld massager with heat is the price. This is a nearly unbeatable price for an electric massager from a reputable company. I had the pleasure of reviewing several Snailax massagers, and the company’s back massagers for chairs are some of the best on the market.
Overall, the massage function of the Snailax handheld massager is very similar to the Renpho unit above. They both use percussion technology to massage the muscles and relieve knots with thousands of vibrating pulses per minute. Keep in mind, that this type of massage is different from the power offered by the massage guns in this guide.
The Snailax massager offers up to 80 minutes of power per charge, and the four included attachments allow for shiatsu and other massage techniques. Simply switch between heads to find your perfect massage.
- The massager is long enough to reach muscle knots in your back without help
- Super convenient to use at home or while at work
- Effectively soothes sore muscles after a hard day’s work or sitting all-day
- Works while charging
- The pressure is adequate for relieving muscle knots
- An excellent upper back massager
- The percussion technology actually works to eliminate stubborn muscle knots
- Does an awesome job of releasing tension in the neck after long study sessions
- The attachments are quite useful for varying massages
- The heat may not get as high as you’d like
- Not as much battery power per charge as the other units in this guide
- You might not be a fan of the handle
- Too weak according to some users
Body Back Trigger Point Massager
For those of you who don’t like to rely on battery power to relieve your muscle knots, the Body Back Trigger Point Massager is the best manual massager on the market for effectively relieving muscle knots. The Body Back massager is the original S-shaped manual massager. It’s made in the USA of extremely durable fiber composite material to stand up to a lifetime of use.
The 2-hook design includes a total of 11 knobs to work the entire body including the back, neck, and feet. There’s a special “Spine nub” made for relieving knots in the back. The package also includes a 16-page manual that explains exactly how to to use the Body Back massager and expertly target different muscle groups.
What I like the most about the Body Back Massager is how lightweight it is. This massager is amazingly strong, yet it only weighs 1.25 lbs. The double-hook design makes it the most versatile manual massager on the market with near-limitless options. Whether you choose this massager as your main massager or as a supplement to the electric massagers in this guide, it’s an excellent choice for travel and home use.
- The unique shape of the massager makes it possible to reach even the hardest to reach places
- Relieves stubborn knots in the upper back and shoulders like a champ
- Excellent for daily use to soothe chronic muscle knots
- The variety of knobs makes it great to use on the whole body
- Knots in the lower back are no match for the Body Back massager
- Awesome value for the money
- Hit knots from every direction for better relief
- The amount of pressure you can apply with the Body Back may surprise you
- Effectively reaches those deep spots below the shoulder blades where knots like to hide
- May not be rigid enough for you
- The material may “stick” to some clothing
- The knobs may be too small for your liking
- There may be more than enough knobs for you
Final Thoughts
Now you’ve learned how to choose the best massager for muscle knots and which types of massagers work best for relieving knots. Handheld units and massage guns are the best electric massagers for knots since they really allow you to accurately target the spots you need to hit the most. The problem with massage pillows and the massagers for chairs is that they do a better job of delivering a complete massage than a concentrated massage on certain problem spots.
Outside of massage guns and handheld units, manual massagers also work quite well for relieving muscle knots throughout the body, including in the back, neck, and calf muscles. If you’re not a fan of the Body Back massager, the Thera Cane is another popular option with fewer nubs.
The last point to consider is that you may require help from a loved one or friend to target muscle knots with a massage gun, while the Renpho and Snailax units offer long enough handles to do the job yourself.
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