Ironhaus M3 Percussion Massager

Description

Amplitude is the spec, not rpm

Every massage gun advertises rpm because it is a big number. What actually determines whether the device reaches muscle rather than just vibrating skin is amplitude — how far the head travels per stroke. Below about 10 mm you have a vibration device. 12 mm is the effective range for a handheld. A gun running 3,200 rpm at 8 mm will feel busy and do less than this one at 2,400 rpm and 12 mm.

Stall force tells you if it will bog down

Stall force is how hard you can press before the motor stops. At 45 lb you can lean into a quad or a glute without the head stopping dead, which is where cheaper units become useless precisely when you need them. You should not need anything close to that on a calf or a forearm.

What it is good for, and what it is not

Percussion work is well supported for short-term range-of-motion gains and for perceived soreness. It is not a treatment for an injury, it does not break down scar tissue, and it should not be used over a joint, a bruise, a recent strain or anywhere numb. Sixty to ninety seconds per muscle group is the working dose — longer is not better and the skin will tell you so.