For a long time, the best advice for active people recovering from minor injuries or muscle soreness amounted to an over-the-counter pain reliever and “RICE” which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. (You can read more about that here.) The benefit of the resting and elevation elements is evident. Still, the understanding beyond that inflammation is most often the cause or main symptom of minor injuries — and ice knocks down the inflammation.
The massage guns and other recovery tools from Hyperice put the anti-inflammatory properties of ice to work with technical accuracy, applying the cold with appropriate pressure to keep the medicinal benefits focused on the injured spot. Hyperice also looks at the emerging science behind high-frequency vibration and adds that to its mix, multiplying the therapeutic capabilities of its product line.
Beyond any concept of emerging science or product testing, the Hyperice technology is well established in the professional sports world. For example, Tony Finau always has his Hyperice equipment with him at home or on the PGA Tour. The 32-year-old native of Utah recently broke a five-year PGA Tour drought by winning The Northern Trust before helping Team USA win The Ryder Cup last month at Whistling Straits. He credits a portion of his success to these recovery products.
“For recovery, I keep Hyperice sports products in my bag on and off the course,” Finau says. “They’ve been really helpful in keeping me healthy physically and mentally — knowing I’ll be ready to go the next day.”
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Below you’ll find a quick overview of some of the more popular offerings at Hyperice, offering some insight into what would best serve your recovery needs.
Hypervolt Plus
The Hypervolt Plus is the top of the massage gun line for Hyperice. Designed to relieve sore muscles, loosen joint stiffness and increase blood flow to injured areas, the Plus operates with three speeds and five interchangeable massage heads to provide the proper pressure and impact to the affected spot. The Plus aims for professional status as a physical therapy tool with its size and power — only for consumers looking for a recovery option.
With an MSRP of about $350, the Hypervolt Plus runs to the more expensive end of the massage gun market. For that expense, the Hypervolt Plus has a rechargeable battery and a 90-watt motor that’s sound shielded to keep vibration noise down.
One of the best features of this massage gun is it’s entirely legal through TSA security. Hyperice’s certification assures the buyer that it can accompany anyone onto an airplane to work out kinks, aches and pains. However, let the buyer beware because you never know when the wrong high school dropout with a TSA badge didn’t get the memo. That could end up costing you your Hypervolt Plus.
Hypersphere Mini
For sale at about $100, the Hypersphere Mini is about the size of a baseball. Made of a very sturdy silicone shell, the Mini has a 10-watt motor offering three speeds of percussion vibration and a rechargeable battery. Its size is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it’s too small to vibrate enough to aid large muscles. Still, it’s perfect for targets the undersides of joints and smaller muscles.
On one very specific note, it’s an excellent tool for kinks in the back or a tight piriformis muscle that causes sciatica. The user can sit on or lay on the Hypersphere Mini and let it do its work without much additional effort.
Hyperice Knee
While there’s no vibration in play here, the Hyperice Knee leans into the anti-inflammatory qualities of ice under pressure to aid sore or injured joints. This kit includes a waterproof bag to hold ice cubes, crushed ice or a provided canister that can be filled with water and frozen. A fabric guard equipped with hook and loop connections wraps around the joint (the knee in this case) with the ice in its center. The resulting cocoon keeps ice directly on the affected joint continually, even if the wearer moves.
It’s effective and secure; however, it does have minor drawbacks. It’s tricky to put the entire setup in place, and it works best with ample, smaller ice cubs (which can be hard to acquire). Selling north of $100, it’s best for those with severe knee issues in need of urgent relief.
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