How to Use a Percussion Massage Gun for Back Pain Relief
Sponsored Content: This video contains paid product placement. Thank you to iReliev for sponsoring this video and providing Doctor Jo with a free Percussive Massager to use. If you purchase products from these links/ads, Doctor Jo will earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Percussive Massage Therapy using a massage gun (aka percussion massager) for back pain relief uses fast, soft pulses over a short amount of time to get deep down into the muscle fibers.
The continuous taps help muscles relax and heal. A massage gun works great on back pain, but make sure to be aware of the precautions before beginning. Focusing on areas like the latissimus and erector spinae muscles is a good place to start.
Like a traditional massage, a percussion massager helps to reduce inflammation and increasing circulation. It can help relax tight muscles, break up scar tissue and adhesions, and minimize muscle soreness and tension. Some studies have found percussive therapy to be as effective as massage in preventing DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness).
In this video, I’m using the iReliev Wireless Percussion Massager. In addition to being wireless, the unit is very quiet, and it comes with four different head attachments to target various areas. It also includes a nice carrying case to keep everything organized and in one place.
Therapeutic Yoga can help relieve back pain by incorporating physical therapy & yoga. Trudy, a fellow PT & registered yoga teacher, stops by to show me stretches & exercises for back pain relief.
Cracking your back can help relieve back pain. But make sure the cause of your back pain is diagnosed first because with some back issues you should never crack your back.
Stretches & exercises are a great way to help relieve back pain. But with nearly 1,000 videos on the Ask Doctor Jo YouTube Channel, it can be hard to find the best one for you. So for 2025, here are some of my favorite Back Pain Relief Videos that actually work!
This back pain relief exercises routine can help strengthen, relieve pain, and loosen up the muscles around the back and the hip area. These back exercises are done in real time, so it’s easy to follow along with the routine.
These back pain stretches and exercises are for general back pain like soreness from overworking your back or if you've pulled a muscle. Check out the back pain section of my website for more specific back pain related exercises and stretches.
These back pain relief stretches don't necessarily need to be done in bed, but they are a great way to help relieve back pain in the morning before getting up, and/or when going to bed at night.
