Revolutionising Recovery: A Q&A with Therabody’s Tim Roberts on Wellness Tech at PURE Spa UK
At PURE Spa UK, we’ve always believed in the power of innovation to elevate wellness. So when we partnered with Therabody—the pioneers behind the Theragun, SmartGoggles and JetBoots Prime—we knew we were stepping into the future of recovery, relaxation, and self-care.
To dive deeper into the science behind the tech (and why it works so well in a spa environment), we sat down with Tim Roberts, Therabody’s Vice President of Science and Innovation. From the evolution of accessible wellness tech to the physiological benefits of percussion, heat, light, and compression— Tim gives us a no-nonsense look at why Therabody products are transforming how people feel, perform, and recover, every single day.
1. Can you tell us a bit about Therabody’s mission and how its technology is revolutionising wellness?
In the last 50 years our understanding of the human body has changed drastically. Meanwhile our ability to make technology accessible has also grown exponentially including utilising and the importance of massage, cold, heat, light and sound. Therabody is continuing to innovate with technological solutions to improve the health and wellness of the everyday, performance orientated and beauty orientated person.
Previously, access to wellness technologies that can be used by individuals on themselves was reserved for only the extremely wealthy or within a medical clinic setting. Therabody aims to bridge the gap between what was previously accessible to what is now accessible for the masses – and doing this through a lens of how to improve health and wellness.
Furthermore, with the advancements in technology a lot of products are in the market that don’t provide the correct treatment specifications or dose to the body. Therabody prides itself on leading with science and ensuring that our products are validated both by our internal lab and in scientific research conducted by partners at universities, hospitals, and private labs globally.
2. What makes Therabody’s approach to recovery and relaxation different from traditional massage and therapy techniques?
Traditional massage and therapy can be highly effective, however at times they can be accessible whether it is cost prohibitive or even schedule prohibitive. Therabody develops products that are scientifically proven to provide different therapeutic benefits and can be used by anyone at any time. Furthermore, with the advancement in science and engineering we can leverage new emerging technologies like infrared light therapy in combination with heat and percussion to make our products more effective than ever, provide benefits that traditional massage cannot. A great example of this is Therabody’s Theragun Pro Plus.
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Theragun has become a must-have in the fitness and wellness world—how does it enhance recovery, and what makes it stand out from other massage tools?
The Theragun helps improve recovery by increasing circulation to the area you treat – this increased circulation delivers oxygen and nutrients to the muscles recovering and transports the metabolic waste products away from the area. This helps to speed up the body’s natural recovery processes helping you recover faster.
A key differentiator between Therabody and other percussive device brands is our scientific understanding of the category and how we drive education. Through educational support in our app and within our products’ packaging we help guide our customers. If you use a massage gun on the wrong areas of the body, or for the wrong amount of time you might not get all the possible benefits. Our app helps to guide users on where to use their Theragun devices and how to use them for right amount of time and the correct consistency to get the most out of their device.
Our devices are backed by science and research, and we have validated that each Theragun creates the right physiological and neurological responses to aid recovery. In our lab we test for numerous factors we measure differences in blood flow response, differences in muscle tissue oxygenation, how our Theragun range improves flexibility, the reduction tension in muscle between different protypes and the impact of each factor amplitude (depth), frequency, the shape of attachments and heat.
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PURE Spa UK offers Therabody Massages using the Theragun—what are the key benefits of this treatment, and who is it best suited for?
The combination of hands-on and Theragun massages work deep into the muscle to release tension without discomfort. The treatment is suited for those looking for noticeable and long-lasting, whole-body wellness and recovery.
Benefits include increased circulation, oxygen delivery, improved muscle recovery, reduced tension and stiffness, decreased soreness and inflammation, improved sleep and more.
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How do SmartGoggles by Therabody work, and how can they help reduce stress and improve sleep?
SmartGoggles use a combination of heat, vibration, and massage therapies to help reduce stress, ease headaches, and improve sleep quality.
By using our built-in biometric sensor to vibrate at a frequency lower than your heart rate, it helps to synchronize your heartbeat with the rhythm and bringing a sense of calm to both body and mind.
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Who would benefit most from using SmartGoggles—are they ideal for professionals, athletes, or people dealing with digital eye strain?
SmartGoggles have a multitude of use cases for all types of people, whether you’re looking for respite from screen time, need help to switch off (or on), or you’re looking for pre-sleep relaxation:
SmartRelax: This mode uses a biometric sensor to measure your pulse and adjust the vibration pattern for a personalised relaxation experience, aiming to slow down your heart rate and reduce stress.
Focus: This mode combines heat and massage on the temples and third eye area to promote focus and concentration.
Sleep: This mode uses gentle massage and low vibration, along with heat, to prepare your body for sleep and improve sleep quality.
Customisation: You can adjust the heat and vibration levels for each mode, as well as access sound therapy through the Therabody app.
The JetBoots improve the circulation of both cardiovascular and lymphatic systems thereby accelerating the body’s natural processes of recovery. The JetBoots improves circulation of the cardiovascular system for delivering oxygen and nutrients around the body. Furthermore, a well-functioning lymphatic system is important for filtering waste products, which is improved by physical movement.
Yes! JetBoots increase circulation, which helps reduce swelling and fluid buildup, making it a great way to feel better, whether you are an athlete, or not. Many people spend all day on their feet for work and the JetBoots can make a huge difference reducing swelling and fatigue.
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Therabody products are backed by science—can you share some key research findings that highlight their effectiveness?
#1 Theragun Helps You Relax
Massages are known to be relaxing, and the percussive massage therapy delivered by a Theragun is no exception.
Percussive therapy stimulates receptors in the muscle that promote relaxation. It also stimulates the nervous system to release endorphins - feel-good hormones - that help reduce stress and anxiety while supporting a sense of comfort and well-being. [6]
Even just a few moments of relaxation can calm the mind and body, making it more resilient to take on the day’s challenges.
#2 Theragun Helps Lull You to Sleep
The Theragun is so relaxing that it can even help lull you to sleep. Getting quality sleep is crucial in helping you show up as your best self. Sleeping well means you feel energized, alert, emotionally balanced, and ready to take on the day. Vital recovery processes also occur during sleep. [7]
Therabody’s scientists collaborated with Biostrap Labs, a wearable health tech company, to investigate how using the Theragun impacts measures of sleep, performance, and recovery.
Results of the study showed Theragun to be an effective tool for improving sleep:
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87% of participants fell asleep faster (on average, 4 minutes and 15 seconds faster each night)
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70% of participants experienced more efficient sleep (and on average woke up 7% less each night)
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56% of participants had a better sleep score
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100% of participants reported improvements in overall quality of life and said they would recommend a Theragun to others
Adding Theragun to your nighttime routine is an effective way to naturally help relax your muscles and ease you into slumber. We break down more ways to improve your sleep here.
#3 Theragun Relieves Daily Acute Aches
Aches aren’t just a result of intensive exercise. Stiffness, tightness, and discomfort can stem from everyday activity like carrying groceries or inactivity like sitting too long or having poor posture.
Whether you’re in your 20s or 70s, your muscles and joints can often feel stiff or tight. Movement and physical activity can contribute to those feelings (mainly as you adjust to a new type of movement or increase the weight and intensity of the activity). But prolonged periods of sitting can also wreak havoc on your body. For example, sitting for too long can shorten your hip flexors (a major stabilizer of the lower back), and tightness of this muscle may increase the risk of lower back tension. [8]
Theragun stimulates sensory receptors in the muscle to trigger muscle relaxation, helping mitigate tension in that area. [9]
#4 Theragun Helps Make Breathwork a Daily Habit
How did we go from talking about percussive therapy to breathwork? Several Theragun models, including the Theragun Sense, include access to science-backed breathwork routines within the Therabody app.
Breathwork refers to the practice of using targeted, intentional breathing exercises. Research shows that regular breathwork practice induces relaxation and improves stress and mood. It does this by helping to switch the body from a sympathetic (fight or flight) state to a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state. [10]
#5 Theragun Can Support Healthy Aging
There’s no doubt that getting older comes with a unique set of changes. Joints tend to creak more. Muscles become less stretchy. Part of that is thanks to the thickening of fascia. Fascia is what surrounds your muscles, joints, and bones and helps to keep the gears in your body running smoothly. But fascia tends to build up in certain areas with age because of lower collagen production and elasticity. [11] Percussive therapy can help break up the fascia surrounding the muscles to improve your range of motion. It stimulates blood flow to remove metabolic waste from the tissue. [12, 13]
Better recovery equals longevity of the body’s joints. There is also a domino effect – regular physical activity also keeps your joints moving well.
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How does Therabody continue to innovate in the wellness space? Are there any exciting new developments we should keep an eye on?
To remain innovative in the wellness space we have a Research and Development team made up of both world-class scientists and engineers. We invest in science and engineering, and as the scientific leader in the industry we actively pursue scientific validation, doing this through our own labs whilst also working with third parties, including universities and hospitals for full scientific validation.
Our engineers look at emerging technologies and how they can be applied, and our scientists and marketing teams utilise different research methods to analyse what problems are on the horizon and how they can be solved.
We use empirical evidence to work out what problems we want to solve using our products. Additionally, we gather data from literature and consumer trends including social media. We look for an intersection between scientific evidence, emerging technologies, consumer trends and where Therabody feels they are qualified and can make a difference in.
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Why is Therabody excited about partnering with PURE Spa UK? How do our spa treatments complement Therabody’s technology?
Our partnership with PURE Spa UK allows us to integrate our cutting-edge wellness technology into PURE Spa’s luxurious spa environment, enhancing the overall wellness experience. The collaboration allows PURE Spa clients to experience a comprehensive approach to wellness that addresses both physical and mental well-being.
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