ServicesRecovery modality

Percussion Therapy

Rapid mechanical pulses that drive fluid through tissue, break up adhesions, and reset tight muscle in minutes.

1,800-3,200pulses per minute

Percussion therapy delivers rapid, targeted mechanical pulses into a muscle group to unwind tight tissue and speed recovery.

Used well, it’s one of the fastest ways to change how tissue feels. In-office we use it before adjustments to relax surrounding muscle and after to consolidate the change, matched to the tissue’s actual response, not chased around a sore spot.

How it works

Inside a percussion therapy session.

Warm the tissue

A broad head at light pressure prepares the muscle for deeper work, roughly 30 seconds of sweeping.

Find the target

We palpate for the actual restriction, not just where it hurts. Those are often different spots.

Work it

A deeper head, moderate pressure, cross-fiber for 60-90 seconds. We stop as soon as the tissue changes.

Retest & pair

We check range of motion and pair with adjusting, stretching, or red light to lock in the change.

Why patients ask for it

What you can expect to feel.

Rapid reduction in muscle tightness
Improved range of motion in minutes
Boosted local circulation and lymphatic drainage
Less post-workout soreness (DOMS)
Excellent prep and finish for adjustments
No downtime, you leave feeling better right away

Is it right for you?

Who this helps.

Great for

Post-training tightness in athletes
Weekend-warrior soreness after over-doing it
Classic upper-trap and levator scapulae ‘desk knots’
Post-surgical patients (once cleared) rebuilding tissue quality
Anyone who feels tight but isn’t injured, the sweet spot

Not right when

Acute muscle strain or fresh bruise
Bone-on-bone joints or bony prominences
Areas of active inflammation, infection, or open wound

If any of these apply we’ll build a plan around a different modality, and we’ll tell you why.

What to expect

Your first session.

Duration

5-10 min per target area

Frequency

As needed, often 1-2 times per week

Prep

Wear clothing that gives access to the area.

Percussion is usually a prep-and-finish tool, not a full visit on its own. You’ll feel and see a change in range of motion within a couple of minutes. If a spot doesn’t change in a minute or two, we switch tools, percussion isn’t the right answer for every situation.

FAQ

Common questions.

How is this different from a massage gun at home?

Same principle, better technique and pairing. In-office we choose the right head, pressure, and duration based on how your tissue responds, and we pair it with an adjustment or stretch to make the change stick.

Will it leave bruises?

Not when used correctly. Bruising is a sign of too much pressure or too long on one spot.

Who should not use percussion?

Anyone with an acute strain, fresh bruise, or active inflammation should wait. Blood-thinning medication is also a caution worth telling us about.

Pairs well with