Power tools used to massage aching muscles

When Georgia Mergner needs a little help relieving sore muscles, this college athlete simply powers up some power tools. Like a standard car buffer from the hardware store.

"I really like the car buffer a lot. My quads get really sore, and then it's really great."

Mergner learned about the tools from her school's head strength coach. He discovered other trainers using them online. There are demos all over social media.

In addition to the buffer, coach Bill Delongis uses a filed-down and cushioned jigsaw, that he fashioned thru trial and error, to massage his athletes.

"We make it safe. And I've been using the 'jigsage', which is what I like to call it. I've been using it for going on almost two years now, and I've never had an issue. And it gets used all the time."

Delongis said, these tools are at least half off the price of ordinary massage devices and, he said, they work just as well.

"Love them for the warm ups just to warm the muscle up and loosen any knots, adhesions that you might have."

However, the Director of Education for the Associated Body Work and Massage Professionals Anne Williams said a traditional hand massage is safer and more effective.

"When you're a massage therapist you're constantly aware of what's happening in the tissue, you're palpating the tissue; you're feeling for anomalies in tissue. There's no way that a machine can do that."

A spokesperson for the maker of one power tool sometimes used for personal massage released a statement saying, "We do not condone the use of the tools in such a manner from a safety perspective."

Coach Delongis agrees safety is a concern and advises using the power tools for massages under the direction of a professional.

Mergner was initially intimidated but learned from her trainer and is ready to stay powered up.

"Be careful and talk to someone who knows what they're doing. But, I would definitely recommend it."