In the past three years, there has been a proliferation of percussion massage devices that are now available to consumers. The two types most commonly purchased and in use are called oscillatory and reciprocating. Oscillatory massagers are similar to the BuffEnuff® Power Massager and feature a soft round contact surface that moves in a circular or semicircular oscillatory pattern. Reciprocating massagers have a single head which sometimes allows for interchangeable massage heads. Primarily, this category of massage tool moves in only one direction back and forth with no circular action. The oscillatory massage tools are more versatile to the user because they provide the most contact surface for treatment, making them more efficient. They also can be used over bony surfaces, on the head, neck, and with people who have acute pain and are subacute or acutely inflamed from trauma and injury. Further, when an oscillatory percussion massager is used with a Tilt® or Edge® contact, they recreate a reciprocating action deepening the massage strokes and multiplying the intensity.
When considering whether percussion massage is appropriate, it's important to not isolate the therapy alone as the only choice if other modalities are available. Using other devices, such as foam rollers, hand-held massage tools, exercise bands, resistance, active and passive stretching, and hands-on massage while using the percussion massager in treatment are called Partnering®. Partnering® can be highly effective especially when trainers and healthcare practitioners are skilled in other care and rehab methods. Consider, the use of the BuffEnuff® or other percussion massagers as augmentative aids.
The Indications for Percussion Massage are:
Neuromuscular reeducation – Retuning-reminding tissue – making tissue feel safe again
Like-Pre-fighting an airplane for safe operation
•Increasing endorphins
•Relaxation
•Reduction of cortisol levels
•Muscle pain
•Hypertonic and hypotonic muscles
•Reduced joint and muscle range of motion
•Improving circulation of blood and lymph fluids
•Desensitization of myofascial trigger points
•Pre/post exercise to improve circulation of blood and lymph and reduce post-exercise muscle soreness
•Belated pregnancy - use on acupuncture points for stimulation of labor and contraction
Thus, percussion massage can be a powerful support in many circles of human need. Sports, healthcare, anti-aging, psychology, global social transformation, and other areas of human application and even animal care are all appropriate locations to find a population that can benefit from this fast-growing emergent technology.