The Njoie (pronounced enjoy) Nforce massage gun is a lightweight percussion massage gun that uses short duration staccato bursts of gentle hammering to get into your soft tissue.
Does it help recovery? I couldn’t say objectively, but it does feel good and it is relaxing. And that may be all it needs to be. If you need some science to help you out there’s this: To Compare the Effect of Vibration Therapy and Massage in Prevention of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
But there isn’t much research on percussion massage guns specifically. I was skeptical at first because they are not cheap, and they are called guns that you have to point at yourself and trigger.
How Percussion Massage Guns Work
At the top of the range for percussion massage guns, like the $599 Theragun Pro, have some serious specs: 60 lbs of force, 16 mm amplitude, Bluetooth, OLED screen, and wireless charging.
And if you are paying six hundred dollars to get pummeled you do need to consider the specifications. You want over 40 lbs of force so that you can apply more pressure and not stop the massager from working because it stalls.
You want higher amplitudes, 16 mm being the top of the range, because that is the amount the head of the massager moves out and you need higher amplitudes for deeper massages.
You also want speed, how fast the massage head moves, with the mid-range of speeds being about 2,500 RPM. In that regard, the Njoie Nforce hits the mark. And it squeezes in under $100.
That goes a long way to making up for its lack fo muscular specifications to compare with the big boys. I guess the only way you’d know the difference in performance is if you have devices at both ends of the spectrum to compare directly on your skin.
| 5 Levels | Benefit |
|---|---|
| 1900 RPM | Relaxation |
| 2300 RPM | Waking up muscles |
| 2700 RPM | Decomposing lactic acid |
| 3100 RPM | Improving blood circulation |
| 3500 RPM | Relieving deep tension |
Good Vibrations, ROM and DOMs
The benefits of massage are tangbile for everyone from hardcore lifters to casual users. The premise of massage is that it moves muscles and tissues around, releases toxins by creating better circulation, throughput of oxygen and overall release of tension and stress.
It can help loosen you up after a heavy lifting session and keep you flexibile. It can help you sleep better which anyone who has ever had a massage session in a spa can attest to.
I can say, unequivocally, that everyone in my family fights over using the Nforce at nights and that it’s pretty cool to pummel yourself with it before you go to bed.
Just the vibrations across your skin are enough to relax you. Still, you have to be careful to keep the gun away from your neck or sensitive parts of your body. Maneuvering it on your own can be challenging unless you have expertise as a contortionist.
It builds grip strength, though, especially at higher RPMs. And if all it does is give you a sense of relaxation then it’s worth the hundred bucks you pay for it. That’s probably no more than one professional massage session in a spa worth of cost.
Which brings me to my ultimate recommendation for the Njoie Nforce: you get what you pay for. This is an entry level product or a low-cost alternative to more powerful percussion massage guns.
The experience is enjoyable on a casual basis but if you are someone who sees a massage gun as a component of your training and recovery then you might want to consider something more powerful.