Anabolic Talks

My IT bands and quads are always tight, which pulls on my knees. I've been using a foam roller, but wondering if a massage gun is worth the investment. Is one better than the other for releasing tension around joints?

Different tools for different jobs.
Roller = Big, broad areas. Good for flushing the whole quad or back.
Gun = Specific, targeted areas. Amazing for getting into small, knotty spots (like TFL, glute med, calves).

I have both. I use the roller for 5 mins as a general "scan" and warm-up, then I use the gun to attack any specific "hot spots" I found. The gun is much better for precision.

Be careful with the gun *directly* on joints or bony bits (like your kneecap or IT band itself). Use it on the *muscle belly* (e.g., the quad muscle, the VMO) that *pulls* on the joint.

Gun is faster. I can do my whole pre-lift prep in 3 mins with a gun. Takes 10-15 with a roller. Worth the money for time saved, in my opinion.

VO2Commander's point is vital. Never use a massage gun directly on a joint, tendon, or bursa. Muscle belly only. They are for "myofascial release", not "joint release".

Super helpful. Roller for big areas, gun for knots. And *muscle belly only*. That's the key takeaway. Cheers team!