The Wellness Devices Fitness Pros Actually Use and Swear By

The wellness equipment market is huge, noisy and full of products that promise transformation and deliver disappointment. It’s hard to know what’s actually worth buying when every device claims to be the one that changes everything. The most reliable filter is simple: ask people whose job it is to know. We reached out to fitness professionals, trainers, trainers and movement specialists who spend their careers working with equipment and recommending it to their clients and asked each of them to name the wellness device they personally use and endorse. These are their answers.

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1. Massage guns

A massage gun is a useful tool to have on hand if you are looking for relief for your recovery. I have tested many massage guns and have some personal favorites. Certified personal trainer, running coach, and massage therapist at Knead Massage, Amanda Grimm recommends investing in one, especially if you exercise regularly.

“Using a massage gun regularly will reduce your recovery time between workouts, allowing you to train more consistently and intensely,” she says. Plus, massage guns can help improve your range of motion, so you’re ready to tackle any workout.

“The most obvious benefit my clients report is the reduction in muscle soreness in the days following a tough session,” says Grimm. Taking your recovery seriously also has its benefits. The sooner you feel recovered, the sooner you can return to your next workout.

Learn more: 8 Unexpected Wellness Devices Your HSA or FSA Could Cover

If you’re new to using a massage gun, Grimm recommends using it before and after a workout for a few minutes at a time. “Using a massage gun during a slower speed pre-workout allows us to target the main muscle groups we will be working, thereby increasing blood flow and increasing the available range of motion,” she explains.

For post-workout, Grimm advises targeting the main muscle groups you focused on during your workout. “Using a medium intensity setting for one to two minutes will help remove excess fluid and inflammation and jump-start the recovery process,” she says.

Grimm’s favorite massage guns include the Renpho R3 Mini Massage Gun and the Theragun Pro. “I like the Renpho R3 because it’s affordable and compact, making it a good choice to throw in your gym bag,” she says. She notes that it’s powerful for its size and price and has multiple speed settings, making it a versatile little tool.

The Theragun Pro is her favorite professional-grade massage gun that she uses with all of her clients. “The Theragun Pro is packed with great features, including an impressive 16mm of amplitude (which is basically the depth of each ‘shot’ into your muscle tissue) and a fantastic ergonomic design, with a rotating arm and a really comfortable handle,” she says. It’s also that of CNET best massage gun choice, which we recommend to serious athletes.

2. An Apple Watch

As someone who loves running, I have always enjoyed tracking my runs on a Apple Watch because it’s easy to read and connects perfectly to my iPhone. Personal trainer, fitness trainer and sports dietitian Umo Callins of Oklahoma City-based Well Rooted Health and Nutrition swears by the Apple Watch.

“I like the different training options he has to follow, and I recommend fitness watches to my customers who don’t mind having something on their wrist and benefiting from data,” says Callins, adding, “I find that my data-driven customers are more consistent with their lifestyle and physical activity when they wear fitness watches.”

The last Apple Watch Series 11 added an FDA approved hypertension alert functionality, improved battery life and sleep tracking. Callins likes that the Apple Watch displays his activity trends on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Plus, on days when she’s not as active, it gets her moving. “I also like that it syncs with my Oura ringwhich helps me understand how my body recovers on a day-to-day basis, my sleep patterns and my overall preparation, which is an important part of what dictates my workouts,” she adds.

3. Under Desk Walking Treadmill

I tested walking treadmills before and I like that they take up minimal space and allow you to multitask. Certified personal trainer, dietitian and owner of One Pot Wellness, Wan Na Chun swears by her under-desk treadmill. “As someone who works from home, a treadmill helps me stay active instead of sitting for long periods of time,” she says.

Chun also recommends treadmills to clients, who appreciated their simplicity for incorporating more daily movement. Indeed, the treadmill makes staying active more accessible, whatever the weather or busy schedules. Chun particularly likes to use Kingsmith Walk and Work treadmill and says she has used it for years to answer calls, read or work on her computer.

Chun recommends clients use a treadmill as a low-impact option to help them primarily take steps, but says it shouldn’t be their only form of exercise. “An under-desk treadmill is meant to complement your structured workouts by keeping the body active in a small and sustainable way throughout the day,” says Chun. She says that on average she can easily get around 5,000 steps a day at a slow pace and adds: “I find this particularly helpful during the winter months when I am less active outdoors due to poor weather conditions.”

4. Whoop Group

If you’re serious about your recovery and want to track this data, Ed Gemdjian, general manager and certified personal trainer of The Gym Venice, recommends the Whoop band. Gemdjian specializes in working with clients aged 40 and over. He says: “This gives clear daily preparation for work and training by combining heart rate variability, resting heart rate and sleep quality. » This allows him to use data provided by the device to match his clients’ training load to recovery. “This is particularly valuable to our 40+ customers who thrive through intelligent progression and appropriate recovery,” he adds.

Gemdjian understands the importance of sleep and recovery, and the Whoop gives him greater insight into his clients’ habits. “We look at sleep metrics and provide sleep hygiene coaching to address common non-medical issues such as inconsistent bedtimes, caffeine timing, and screen use before bed,” he says. The Whoop is a good screen-free portable option that provides the wellness data you need without disturbing you while you sleep or at the gym.

5. Tracking Body Composition

If you have access to a DEXA scan or InBody scan, here are some of the best ways to track your progress. This type of evaluation is usually performed in a gym or practitioner’s office equipped with this type of equipment, as it is not accessible to consumers. The DEXA scan is considered the gold standard for measuring everything from bone mineral density (it’s primarily used for osteoporosis screening), lean muscle mass, fat mass, hydration levels and much more.

It gives you the most accurate data about your body rather than jumping on a scale that simply weighs you. Gemdjian uses these tools with her clients to get a baseline during onboarding, then rechecks every eight to 12 weeks to see if there have been any physiological changes. “We coach based on trends, not numbers, so if skeletal muscle mass is increasing and visceral fat is decreasing, we know we’re on the right track even if body weight hasn’t moved much,” he explains.