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Keen to upgrade your recovery? MH drills into the details with this quick-fire guide to the best massage guns for the busy man

There’s some satisfaction to be had from a little bit of post-training tenderness. A dash of DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness) lets you know that your muscles are adapting; many a masochistic gym-goer wears his aches as a badge of pride. But wincing with pain as you climb out of bed and hobble down the stairs to breakfast? No one needs the badge pinned to them quite that hard.

Percussive therapy promises to get you off the sofa and back in the gym faster, increasing blood flow and loosening tight muscles. And research suggests it works: a study in the Journal Of Clinical And Diagnostic Research found a short spell with a gun eased pain just as well as a 15-minute massage. They’re performanceboosters, too, improving your range of motion.

These power drill-esque devices work by digging into your muscles at a high frequency using a variety of attachments. Most are wireless and compact, making them travel-friendly, too. But with so many products to pick from, it’s tough to know which guns are worth a shot. Our well-pummelled testers have done the hard work for you.