Over the past six weeks, I’ve been suffering from a bit of an Achilles niggle (of course, this isn’t the correct scientific term). In the back of my left lower leg, a mild ache has developed.
For a bit of relevant background information, I ruptured my Achilles tendon on my left leg during a half marathon back in 2018. I felt it pop and I could barely walk. Since then, I’ve completed the London Marathon and 10 or so half marathons injury-free, but every so often, the ache reappears in my left leg and is sometimes coupled with a more severe shooting pain in the bottom of my heel.
Of course, the first thing I did was book a physio appointment – as we at Runner’s World would always recommend if you’re suffering from any kind of injury. The physiotherapist told me I needed to stop running (sob) and sent me home with a series of strengthening and preventative exercises.
But other than switching my weekly runs for cycles and low-impact exercises, such as Pilates and very gentle stretching, I was eager to try anything else that I could do to speed my recovery along. Enter the Hyperice Venom Go – a £159 wearable that uses a combination of heat and vibration to soothe sore muscles. Could this smart bit of tech offer pain relief and improved recovery?
Hyperice Venom Go review
Arriving in a small, compact box, the first thing I did was download the Hyperice App and register my device. This was as simple as 1, 2, 3. You turn the Venom Go on by pressing the power button on the top of the device once, and it more or less immediately connects to the app via Bluetooth.
Once turned on, I connected the ‘pod’ to the Venom Go pad – it’s magnetic so again, super easy to connect – and then peeled the pad away from the liner. I then stuck the pad to my left Achilles and set the duration to 10 minutes on the Hyperice app – the app also lets you adjust the heat from off to low, medium or high and also set the vibration to off, steady, intermittent, or pattern.
I was seriously surprised at how quickly the pad heated up – in seconds I could feel the heat penetrating through my leg. You can choose your desired temperature and vibration level by pressing either the heat button or the vibration pattern button on either side of the pod, but I found it easier to control the session via my phone.
Once the 10 minutes were up, I peeled the sticky pad off my Achilles and reapplied it to the liner. There are only three pads in the box – and these will lose their stickiness and, at some point, no longer adhere to the skin. Annoyingly, this means you have to purchase more from the Hyperice website. But after using it solidly for three weeks, the first pad is still sticking to my skin.
RW Verdict
In a sentence: The Venom Go offers quick relief for sore muscles through its heat and vibration therapy. Simply attach the pad to the area where you need tension relief, connect it to the magnetic pod, and let it do its thing. I loved that because it’s so small, you can easily take the Venom Go with you wherever you go – so it would be great if you’re travelling abroad for a race, for example, and want to use heat therapy the night before, or indeed after.
Featuring three levels of heat – the third level is actually super hot and when I peeled the pad off my skin was roasting – and three different therapeutic vibration patterns, it’s easy to use and TSA-approved for hassle-free carry-on travel, so there are lots of things to like about this product.
But does it actually work? And does my Achilles feel any better? To be completely honest, I did find it helped to alleviate any soreness, but when I used it before bed, I still tended to wake up with a stiff leg the next morning – but this just made me want to use it more.
Whether it’s a placebo or not, it’s a great little tool to compliment your recovery – though obviously rest and specific physio-recommended exercises are the most important thing. The main question is if you can justify the £159 price tag.
