Ryan Almeida is a mechanical engineer who enjoys solving problems. So, when he began experiencing back pain due to many hours of desk work, he used his product design skills to create something that would alleviate his pain. He learned about foam rolling, began practicing it regularly, and soon Roller Fitness was born. Ryan’s line of Infinity Rollers are available in different densities for different self massage preferences, and he’s also developed a Mini Foot Roller to alleviate foot tension. Read on to learn more about Ryan’s journey to relief from back pain and how his company Roller Fitness is helping people prevent injury, alleviate pain and recover faster.
Tell us a bit about your background, career and inspirations. Why did you create Roller Fitness?
I'm a product designer. I went to CU Boulder and Carnegie Mellon for Mechanical Engineering and I work full time at a DNA sequencing company alongside Roller Fitness. I enjoy solving problems I find interesting. My back pain was a huge problem that I worked on from 2014-2016, so I started Roller Fitness to share what I created and learned during the process.
What have you learned about ergonomics during the process of bringing a foam rolling product to market?
I've become a lot more in-tune with my body. At the start of this journey my back would hurt and I didn't know why or what to do about it. Should I rest, exercise, or ignore it? I learned how my slouched sitting at a computer all day (doing my engineering work) was creating muscle imbalances and weaknesses, which distorted my posture and ultimately created my back pain. I've learned how to release muscle tension to be able to do proper corrective exercises. I feel much more empowered and in control of how my body feels and that's reassuring.
Are there any ergonomic products such as a desk, chair, tech accessories or other equipment that you use or recommend?
I've tried the standing desk and padded mat, they are nice but I don't find myself using them consistently; I guess I'm just used to sitting. One thing that has made a big difference is a large monitor (32") pushed to the back of my desk. This keeps my head up and saves my neck and back compared to being hunched over a laptop.
What are some ways of using the foam roller that you recommend most? How often should people practice foam rolling?
Laying over the roller (placed just below the shoulder blades) with a pillow supporting your head, arms out to the side, and just BREATHING. Deep breath in, deep breath out for 60 seconds. No rolling, no movement, just breathing at first. Every person has different muscle imbalances but this seems to always be needed and a crowd pleaser.
As for how often, it really depends on your goals. I'm a proponent of several times a day just for 2-5 mins to reset. When I need to get deep into the muscle layers or really want to shut down, say before bed, I may roll for 20-30 minutes but that's on the long side. Start slow if you are new to foam rolling. You can be sore the next day just like a hard workout.
Tell us a bit about the difference in foam densities of the Infinity Roller options as well as your newer product, the Mini Foot Roller .
The Infinity Rollers come in three different densities - soft, standard, and firm for different starting comfort levels. Everybody's touch sensitivity is different when it comes to massage. Some like a light Swedish massage and others prefer a deep tissue massage? As for the Mini Foot Roller, that was created for people that stand on their feet all day vs sit all day. Our feet bear our weight and releasing the tension from that stress feels amazing.
Shop the Infinity Roller at www.roller.fitness and follow @rollintofitness on Facebook and Instagram for Ryan’s tips on how to foam roll to relieve tension and pain in the body.