Sore Muscles? These 5 Workout Recovery Tools Can Help

Luckily, just as we’re tempted to overdo it at the gym, pro-level gadgets that help us recover and prevent painful pulls or tears are increasingly hitting the market at prices that amateur exercise junkies can afford. “Post-workout recovery…not only helps your body reset faster, but also sets you up for a pain-free next session,” said

Nike

Master Trainer Kirsty Godso.

Whether you harbor triathlon ambitions or are simply fed up with your chronically tight back, these are the right tools to soothe torn muscle fibers. The day after a workout, they’ll have you bouncing out of bed—or at least not crawling—ready for another session.

1. For Lower Back

Roughly the size of an apple and slightly reminiscent of the Death Star, the TimTam Polish Light vibrating massage ball is a substantial upgrade from the tennis ball some of us rely on after a day hunched over the computer. Just roll the tool—which heats up to 100 degrees and offers four speed options—along your lower back or any other problem spot to soothe your muscles and fascia. $80, timtam.tech

2. For Upper Back

The Theragun Pro percussive therapy device comes with six different attachments—think of them as specialist drill bits for various body fixes—and can pummel your muscles with over 60 pounds of force. That might sound like a terrible idea when you’re feeling sore, but fans say the targeted vibrations actually break up lactic acid and increase your blood flow, reducing inflammation and tightness. With this latest model, you can position the arm four different ways to pinpoint tricksy, hard-to-reach upper back areas. Unlike most percussion massagers, it is also surprisingly quiet. $599, theragun.com

3. For Knees

Heat and vibration are the dream team when it comes to loosening up sore and stiff muscles, particularly in that most troublesome area: the knees. Delivering what’s essentially a warming cyborg leg massage, the Hyperice Venom Leg feels like a regular muscle brace but its touch screen lets you control the temperature, timer and vibration patterns as you wear it. The gadget heats up from 0 to 160 degrees in two minutes, and is sure to start conversations at the gym. $249, hyperice.com

4. For Legs

Long used by elite athletes to recover after games, compression-boot systems like the Air Relax Leg Recovery System have recently gone mainstream. Just pull the pair on like a pair of crotch-high Wellington boots and sit back for 15 minutes while they mechanically compress and relax your limbs, removing lingering lactic acid from your overworked muscles. This particular model has four different pressure levels and three “squeezing” modes. Add shorts and arm attachments (from $175) for an Iron Man-esque Halloween costume. $575, air-relax.com

5. For Shoulders and Arms

The Compex Sport Elite 3.0 might look like a first-generation iPod, but the electronic stimulation unit is a cutting-edge piece of kit and can seriously help with everything from minor strains to persistent knots. The device uses electric nerve stimulation to relieve aches and pains by sending mild currents through your muscles via electrodes. It can be a little tricky to figure out at first, but once you get the hang of it (the electrode placement guide is very useful), you’ll have 20 levels of intensity to choose from and up to eight hours of battery power. $350, compex.com

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