Product Review: The Hypervolt GO by Hyperice (The Physical Therapy Perspective)

With the new Hypervolt GO 2 by Hyperice on the market, I wanted to share my experience/review of the Hypervolt GO (original). I have yet to try out the new GO 2, but the GO was an awesome addition to the physical therapy arsenal because it allowed patients that had difficulty managing the heavier and bulkier Hypervolt to be more comfortable/consistent with their at home tissue work. This review is meant to dive into the pros/cons of this version of the Hypervolt, as witnessed through the lens of a physical therapist.

First Impressions

Right out of the box, this massage gun is ready to go. It comes with a wall adapter/charger and 2 interchangeable heads (flat/bullet). When you first turn it on, the biggest difference from the other models is how quiet and easy it is on the hand. The ergonomic design, plus the lighter weight (1.5lbs), makes it perfect for those that have upper extremity difficulties with grasping, strength, range of motion, or other co-morbidities.

My Experience with the Hypervolt GO

The Hypervolt has always been in my toolbox of equipment, vital to maintaining my body in a functional/pain-free state. As I train for my Spartan races, the Hypervolt allows me to supplement foam rolling with a more precise form of muscle mobilization/massage. I had always wished that my original Hypervolt was more compact and lighter for me to take on the road/races. When I learned that Hyperice debuted a smaller version of my favorite massage gun, it was a no brainer to add it to the Hyperice family of products. I primarily use the Hypervolt for prehab/rehab on areas that I have identified as susceptible to injury/re-injury. When I ran my Spartan Beast this year, I left the venue with symptoms of hip bursitis, which I quickly treated with ice, rest, and using my Hypervolt to target muscles contributing to the irritation on my bursa. I was able to treat the pain and jump right back into training for my next event.

Pros and Cons

Here is a table I have created to give a brief comparison on the Hypervolt options available at this time. If you need more details check out the Hyperice website.

Specs	Hypervolt GO	Hypervolt GO2	Hypervolt 2	Hypervolt 2 Pro
Price	$159.99	$199.99	$299	$399
Weight	1.5lbs	1.5lbs	1.8lbs	2.6lbs
Speed	3 speed	3 speed	3 speed	5 speed
Power	40W	40W	60W	90W
Attachments	Flat + Bullet	Flat + Bullet	Fork, Flat, Cushion, Ball, Bullet	Fork, Flat, Cushion, Ball, Bullet
Battery Life	2.5+ hrs	3hrs	3hrs	3hrs

Pros

Lightweight: It is noticeably lighter when you compare it to the larger versions. This is great for those that have decreased hand strength or have to be careful of the amount of weight they hold due to upper extremity injuries.

Price: Now that the Hypervolt GO2 is out, the Hypervolt GO is discounted to $159.99, and that's an awesome price for this device.

Ergonomics: The design of the Hypervolt GO has a slightly angled handle, which feels really secure and comfortable in the hand.

Design: I really like the sleek design and it is definitely a conversation starter.

Cons

Limited amount of attachments: The 5 different attachments that the Hypervolt 2/Hypervolt 2 Pro have are beneficial for different purposes. I have especially liked the cushion attachment as an introductory attachment for people that are more sensitive to the massage gun. While I do not use the fork attachment, it is designed to massage the paraspinals on both sides without hitting the bones (vertebrae). I use the flat/bullet attachments the most for larger surface areas and more specific/precise areas respectively. Having the extra attachments for the GO would be amazing, but the 2 that come with the device are my top 2 that I prefer using.

The Final Score

Being a physical therapist, it's imperative to have massage guns as tools in my tool bag, because performing muscle techniques with only my hands can lead to early injuries that may affect my ability to work in orthopedics. I look for a massage gun that fits this role within my professional life and also in my personal life. Because of the extra power, attachments, and longer battery life, I use the original Hypervolt in the clinic. When it comes to personal use, I love the Hypervolt GO, especially when traveling. I would recommend the Hypervolt GO for people that have restrictions/difficulties with grip/weight of more bulky devices. The GO serves its role well and provides a cost effective alternative to other options on the market. P.S. Hyperice is a great company that is very responsive to questions/concerns and puts out a consistently solid product that has made my life in/out the clinic easier.

I give the Hypervolt GO...........

4.5 Goniometers out of 5

Hypervolt GO

Buy Now

If you are interested in the Hypervolt GO2, Hypervolt 2, or the Hypervolt 2 Pro check out Hyperice.com .

Thank you for reading, leave a comment/share your experiences with massage guns, and please subscribe to our newsletter for up to date content!

(Bears, Beets, Best massage gun)

Alex Zhidetskiy PT,DPT

IG: @WellnessTribePT

Things That Make You Love And Hate Physical Therapy

What does the term Physical Therapy mean to you?

For some it may be the sounds of dumbbells clinking, or the loud shrieks of pain as a physical therapist attempts to work through scar tissue that has built up. There are certain features of physical therapy that may spark memories of when we had to endure the 2-3x/week sessions to help us overcome an injury.

In this post, I would like to share what I consider the love/hate relationship that my patients have spoken to me about in regards to Physical Therapy. While I may use "we" to refer to physical therapists, these are my own feelings and I only speak for myself. Feel free to chime in with your own experiences.

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The Love

What's not to love about a profession that treats you as a holistic, unique, and complex individual. We cannot truly treat an injury without knowing the who, how, what, why, when, and where. We try to understand the unique experiences of individuals beyond the current injury to better understand habits, tendencies, life experiences, and other factors that allow for a more thorough treatment. Many patients love that they can come and talk about stressors, ask questions that have been pushed aside before, and have an outlet to participate in a total body healing.

Let's not forget the Art + Science of physical therapy. While anatomy, physiology, physics, chemistry, and all the other courses that we learn as PTs remain constant, it's the artistry that patients love/appreciate. Physical therapists are able to create exercises and treatments on the spot by blending what we know about the person (individualized approach) and our knowledge of the sciences. The creative side of physical therapy allows for what I consider detective work, which blends mechanical/movement assessment as soon as the patient walks into the door with awareness of how the patients body and mind are responding to the day's activities. We have to be flexible, understanding, aware, and be great at actively listening to our patient's concerns.

Let's not forget about all those fun exercises that we have you do!!!

Exercises for me are far more than a movement pattern to strengthen a muscle group. Exercises are the bridge between prior dysfunctional movements and new patterns that act to stabilize, control, perform activities in a safe manner, and gain self-awareness. Patients love having the ability to learn "why is this exercise important to me?", because this leads to better consistency and independence with their own recovery. The exercises should be unique to the goal of the patient, which allows for improved adherence to a home exercise program, which is an essential part of the patient-PT relationship.

The best love of them all is reaching the goal of discharge from physical therapy, which is the first step towards taking control of each person's own injury and now being sent out into the world to use the tools/new found knowledge in continued success. While the formal course of physical therapy ends, patients that have received a unique/personalized care tend to express how valuable it was to learn the "Why" of their injuries, which now allows them to become an expert at their own injury.

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The Hate

Can there really be "Hate" in association with physical therapy? I mean, what's not to love about healing from an injury and feeling better?

I would rephrase "Hate" into terms such as discouraging, annoying, uncomfortable, and dislike. When dealing with people's pain, there are obstacles that make the recovery process less linear than what some may expect. Pain is a subjective and while a physiological source of pain may exist, the extend and magnitude of the perceived pain is unique to each individual. It is easy to become frustrated with physical therapy when pain may shift to another area, become more prominent, decrease for a short time only to regain its intensity, or fluctuate throughout the course of PT. This is especially notable with chronic pain, which may have extensive connections within the memory centers of the brain, have emotional/psychological implications, and may be a result of many injuries that have built up with time.

It is our job as physical therapist to take these negative emotions/perceptions and to approach our patients with compassion and understanding, from which we may be able to break this pain cycle and give them a different perspective on PT.

A personal example was working with a patient that had been seen by multiple practitioners in the past, but always felt like it was a "waste of time and quit after a couple of visits". While the patient had multiple areas of concern (orthopedic), it was her feeling of being "pretty hopeless" that drew my attention at creating the best possible rapport, making sure I explained the "Why" at each step of the process. As time progressed, my patient began experiencing relief, but more importantly understood the nature of the pain, the benefits of each exercise, the importance of consistency, the role of external/internal variables, and became motivated to continue after PT was completed.

While physical therapy does involve stepping out of the comfort zone and going through difficult milestones, it is meant to provide an opportunity to learn with the physical therapist and become your own advocate for your health and wellbeing.

This is why we became PTs.

Thank you for tuning in.

Alex Zhidetskiy PT, DPT

Wellness Tribe Physical Therapy