I'll admit. I made an impulse purchase at the IDEA World Fitness Convention at the Health and Fitness Expo when I came across the TheraGun Booth.

I probably was coming off an I-just-exercised high (because at IDEA you end up exercising around four times a day). I was also in vacation-spending-mode when I rationalize high-ticket purchases for reasons like, "It's cheaper than the plane ticket to get here and at least I'll have something tangible to take home."

It was on sale for fitness professionals at the expo show! On sale, I tell you! They even shipped it home to me for free!

I know. It didn't go over that well when I tried to explain it to hubby either. He'll thank me when he's pain-free, right? I promised him that I would skip my monthly massages for the next five months to make up the costs. We'll see how that goes.

I bought a TheraGun neuromuscular percussive therapy device. It's like a handheld power drill and a foam roller had a baby...an extremely loud baby. It's used to soothe muscles, release tight or stiff muscles, activate muscles before exercise and increase the range of motion to help you move pain-free. It's a foam roller on Steroids.

Is it worth the hype? I tell you the pros and cons from my perspective and then demonstrate how I use it in this short video.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. Click the image below to learn more about the Theragun. All opinions are my own.

THERAGUN CONS

IT'S EXPENSIVE

I realize it's probably cost prohibitive for a lot of people. It should have been for me, honestly.

IT'S LOUD

It's annoyingly loud. Maybe it needs to be that loud to work properly. If I am using it in the living room, my husband definitely can't hear the TV, music, or talk on the phone. Ollie runs and hides.

IT HAS ONE INTENSITY LEVEL

There aren't any adjustments for intensity levels. It's on or off. It's one speed: hard and fast. You can adjust the intensity only by how much muscle you put into it, and to a lesser extent by what head you choose for it.

IT DOESN'T REPLACE YOUR FOAM ROLLER OR MOBILITY STRETCHES

It's not a magic wand. If you are doing rehab or prehab exercises, I highly recommend that you continue with those stretches and use the TheraGun as a supplement to your recovery protocol. (I realize this is not exactly a con in itself, just a reminder that mobility exercises and stretching are still needed.)

THERAGUN PROS

IT WORKS INSTANTLY FOR IMPROVING MOBILITY

It works well for instantly improving my mobility. If my hip is tight before a run, I can spend a minute or two with the TheraGun to release the tight muscles.

IT FEELS GOOD (HURTS SO GOOD)

It feels like a vibrating massage. It can feel a little intense, but it generally feels good to loosen up tight muscles. It is similar to the "hurts so good" feeling you may get from using a foam roller on tight or tender muscles.

IT COMES WITH VARIOUS HEADS FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS

It comes with four heads: a large ball, a small ball, a pointy plastic tip, and a rubber end. You can change the head as needed for different muscles and intensity.

IT COMES WITH TWO BATTERIES AND A WALL CHARGER

The batteries pop in and out like on a handheld drill. It comes with two, so one charges while the other is in use and you can swap them out as needed. The batteries charge fairly quickly and last several days.

THEY HAVE GREAT HOW TO VIDEOS ONLINE

When I first opened the package, I was surprised it didn't come with more instructions, just a small pamphlet with general information. Turns out all the detailed lessons on how to use it is on their site. Once I discovered the videos, I was able to master the tool. (Maybe they should have directed people to their website in the pamphlet.)

Overall, I like it and do recommend it. I've been using it for about a month and have noticed increased mobility, at least temporarily. Only time will tell if it leads to long-term relief.

Have you tried the TheraGun? Are you considering it? Let me know if you have any questions.