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If you’ve ever asked YouTube a physical therapy themed question, you may have come across Bob & Brad, “the two most famous physical therapists on the internet.”
Physical Therapists Bob Schrupp and Brad Heineck are known for their easy-to-digest patient-friendly videos covering a wide range of common physical therapy topics.
In addition to their approachable content, they’ve also developed a line of professional-grade massage guns.
Today I’m doing a hands-on review of the Q2 mini massage gun, so stick around for all the details to see if this small but mighty massage gun is right for you.
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This post is not sponsored; however, I did receive the Q2 mini massage gun at no cost in exchange for an honest review. I’ll be discussing all the pros and cons from my hands-on review of the Q2 mini.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Read the full disclaimer.
First impressions of the Bob & Brad Q2 mini
Immediately upon opening the box, I noticed that the Q2 mini is half the size of a traditional massage gun, making it ideal for travel, to take to the gym, or those lacking on space.
In fact, it’s about the same size as my iphone 13 pro max.
Upon picking up the Q2 mini for the first time, the unit has a premium feel with a nice weight and is covered in a soft rubber coating.
The massage head is angled at 90 deg, instead of slightly offset like my Hydragun, but so far, I haven’t found this to be uncomfortable while using it.
It also comes with a variety of attachments (discussed further in the next section) that are easy to quickly pop on and off.
The Q2 mini charges via USB – C and a cable is included. No charging block is included, so you’ll need to use something you already have. The cable is USB to USC – C.
The Bob & Brad Q2 mini also has a higher stall force (Getting the exact number has been tricky, I’ve heard anywhere between 32 – 45 lbs. from various sources), meaning that you can push the massage gun deeply into tissue without fear that it will stop the vibrations. A gun with a lower stall force would stop at a certain pressure.
There is a 10 min auto shut-off; however, you can just press the button to turn it back on.
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The attachments
The Q2 mini comes with a good variety of attachment heads to target different muscle groups throughout the body.
Foam ball attachment – This attachment is great for large muscle groups like the quads and glutes. It’s made of dense foam, so it has a slight give vs. a hard plastic tip.
Air-cushioned head – The air-cushioned head is a rubber air-filled head with some additional give, which is ideal for more sensitive areas.
Bullet head – The bullet head is made of hard plastic and is ideal for small, targeted areas and trigger points.
U-shaped head – This attachment can work around the bony prominences of the spine as well as other areas for muscles and soft tissues.
Flat head – The flat head is also made of hard plastic and can be more of a universal attachment to start with.
To change the heads, you just need to pull it out and lock the new one into place, which is a quick and easy process.
Bob and Brad Q2 mini pros
- Small and travel friendly
- Comes with 5 attachments to target all muscle groups that can easily pop on and off
- Quiet 52-62 decibels
- 5 speeds from 1800 to 3000 rpm
- Price + promo code
- Good battery life
One of the major benefits for the Q2 mini is obviously its size, making it ideal for travel.
Another major plus for this mini massage gun is the fact that it’s super quiet. It uses the latest noise reduction technology to reduce the noise of the massage gun during use.
A big attraction of the Q2 mini is obviously the price. At the time this article was written, the Q2 sold for 69.99 on Amazon.
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With many brands going between $200-500, the Q2 is a pretty good deal if you’re just looking for a basic massage gun.
If you’re looking for a high-end massage gun with all the bells and whistles, then you’ll likely be looking at that higher price point.
Battery life will differ based on what speed you use and for how long, but so far, I’ve been able to use the Q2 mini for 5+ minutes at a time and haven’t noticed a dip in the battery. Bob & Brad say the battery life lasts a total of 3 hours. This is great when you figure most sessions will last 5-10 min; that’s a lot of massaging on one charge.
Bob and Brad Q2 mini cons
- Charging block not included
- Battery not removable
- Attachment heads are not interchangeable with their other models
- Lower amplitude may feel more vibrational than percussive
- No Bluetooth compatibility
The Q2 mini is charged by USB-C with a 5V/2A adapter (which is not included).
It’s pretty common today for companies to not include charging blocks anymore with the idea that we all have so many, but technology changes and charging blocks/types get faster (not to mention, they get lost), so I wish more companies would include them. It just seems like a sneaky way to cut costs and cheat the consumer while also hiding behind the excuse of “going green.” (End rant.)
The battery on the Q2 is not removable, so this might be an issue if you were hoping to check it in your luggage.
The Q2 is part of a full line of professional-grade massage guns from Bob & Brad; however, the heads are not interchangeable with other models.
The Q2 mini has a lower amplitude. This is similar to other mini massage guns but lower than many larger massage guns on the market. This may or may not matter to you.
If you’re looking for a larger amplitude with more percussive power that mimics a deep tissue massage, then a full-size massage gun might be more your speed.
A lower vibration amplitude will feel more vibrational, and a higher amplitude will feel more percussive and deep tissue. Whether or not this is a con to you depends on what you’re looking for.
Related read – A Physical Therapists Hands-On Review of Hydragun
Other highly rated massage guns
Your search wouldn’t be complete without checking out some of the other highly-rated massage guns on the market to make your decision.
Benefits of massage guns
- Increases blood flow and circulation
- Relieves muscle pain, stiffness, and muscle soreness
- Improves mobility
- Promotes relaxation
- Stimulates the nervous system
Massage guns have similar physiological benefits as foam rollers but with a slightly different delivery.
Massage guns are also known as percussive therapy (which often goes hand in hand with vibration therapy), delivering quick bursts of pressure to an area to relieve trigger points and muscle soreness (including delayed onset muscle soreness following exercise).
Benefits include increased blood flow, decreased pain and stiffness, and improved mobility. The main advantage over a foam roller is the ability to target specific areas.
Konrad A et al. looked at the acute effects of percussion therapy on calf muscle range of motion and strength.
After five minutes of targeted percussive massage, they noted an improved range of motion and no effect on strength. Therefore, they concluded that using a massage gun before training should not have any effects on performance.
There’s also less “work” involved since you can just hold a percussion massager, and with a foam roller, you need to get on the floor and contort yourself into various positions.
For those looking for deeper, targeted pressure, a percussive massage gun might fit the bill.
Contraindications/precautions for massage guns
Massage guns are great at working out muscle tension, but there are some areas of the body that a massage gun should NOT be used.
- Over body prominences (e.g., medial/lateral malleoli (ankle bones), greater trochanter of the hip, spine)
- Over the head, face, or front/sides of the neck
- Over the ribs, heart, or kidneys
- Proximal groin area
- Over suspected blood clots or swelling
- Over area with active infections or malignancies
- Over open wounds
- Undiagnosed pain
- Certain areas of the body during pregnancy (speak with your doctor)
- Any area that feels too painful to tolerate
Wrapping up
The Q2 mini is a great option if you’re looking for a high-quality, lightweight, portable massage gun at an affordable price.
Its mini size plus power is an easy way to get some muscle relief on to go, like at the gym, office, or after a long day of traveling.
If you’re looking for a heavier percussion sensation, you might want to try a regular-sized massaged gun. (But who says you can’t have both!)
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Have you tried the Q2 mini? Leave a comment!
