SOME YOUNG GUN

‘No pain, no gain’ is no way to train. Whether from a particularly brutal session at the gym or simply from sitting at a desk all day, when it comes to muscle pain, you shouldn’t have to suffer in silence. While massages are traditionally a good option, they can be expensive and hard to fit into a busy schedule. Enter Therabody.

After a severe motorcycle injury, chiropractor Dr Jason Wersland created the first of its kind handheld massage machine designed to relieve chronic muscle pain. “When I first created the Theragun, it was completely selfish - I invented it to treat myself,” says Dr Wersland. “I was the first patient to use this product to address my own pain and then again for my rehab needs. Eventually, it became part of my daily routine, from waking up to working out.”

Dr Wersland then introduced the Theragun to his patients. “I was able to see some drastic changes and the effect this new modality had on the everyday person,” he explains. “It grew inside my office and became a requested treatment by nearly every patient.”

But even then, he didn’t realise its full potential. “After I felt better, I put it away and didn’t think I would use it again. I had a patient come into my practice who had an injury very similar to mine - and bad insurance like I had. He was desperate for anything that could help him feel better so I ended up giving him that first prototype and it worked wonders for him,” he reveals. “Experiencing his story and being able to guide him in his recovery was a pivotal moment for me. It was at that point where I felt like I may be on to something that could really help people feel better.”

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Designed to combat muscle soreness and aid recovery, the Theragun is a deep tissue massage of sorts. “The up-and-down motion that the Theragun makes is called a percussive motion,” explains Dr Wersland. “The frequency and amplitude of the Theragun moves on and off the body, having a positive effect on the nervous system and body tissue that promotes a more efficient and effective therapy.” From stimulating muscles, enhancing blood flow and even softening knots, you can use the Theragun warming up or post-workout. But it’s not just for gym-goers. “Our mission at Therabody is to help people reconnect with their bodies. Our products literally put recovery and tension relief in the hands of those who use it. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom that deals with back pain, a 9-to-5’er that deals with tech neck or a professional athlete, Therabody is literally for everybody.

Originally launched in 2013, Therabody has grown in popularity amongst professional athletes and supermodels alike. Personalities, as varied as Ashley Graham, Shakira, Kyrie Irving and Cristiano Ronaldo, have all extolled its virtues.

Having rebranded just last year from Theragun to Therabody, the brand has gone on to dominate the recovery industry with more than just percussive therapy. “Recovery has always been important for athletes but it is also becoming more and more important for the everyday person because people are recognising how much better they feel when they are prioritising recovery day to day. The tension that builds in our body on a normal day in our normal environment is not healthy for the body as it is. Compound that with the situation we have been dealing with for the last several months, our bodies need some relief.” And with the new innovations from Therabody’s rebrand, there’s now relief available. “Therabody solutions help relieve everyday tension, and with the changes in our activity levels - from working out more or less - people are definitely recognising the benefits it can offer.”

Giving back forms an important part of the company ethos too. Together with (RED), the charity organisation founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to build stronger health systems that fight pandemics, Therabody has created Theragun and TheraOne products that raise funds for the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response as well as (RED)’s fight to end AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. What’s more, the brand has also been donating Theraguns to hospitals around the globe to aid frontline workers.

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Percussive therapy can help mental wellbeing also. “There is little doubt that physical health affects our mental states and vice versa. Debilitating pain can lead to depression and can prevent us from partaking in many of the joys of life. Anxiety can lead to muscle tension and can drain our energy,” he says. “If we can take care of ourselves physically, we can perhaps ease many of the burdens that come with mental health issues. Exercise can help us ensure our bodies are producing the right levels of hormones that help regulate our mental states.” Essentially, when your body is healed, so too will your mind.

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