Liu Yangyang

524652046@qq.com

FOR anyone who loves working out, this scenario will sound familiar: after a high-intensity session, all you want to do is lie on your yoga mat and give your muscles a quick massage using a foam roller or massage gun. But you’re exhausted — so you end up cutting the massage short. The next day, your muscles are sore because recovery wasn’t done properly.

“This was the exact problem we wanted to solve,” said Sun Yingdong, a Gen Zer and founder of RheoFit, during an interview with Shenzhen Daily.

“Foam rollers can help, but they’re hard to control and require core strength. Our goal is to make full-body muscle recovery easy, automatic, and effortless — not just physically, but mentally too,” Sun added.

A startup by sports fans

That goal led to the creation of the RheoFit A1, the world’s first smart massage roller, which was launched in September 2024. In just three months, it sold nearly 5,000 units across more than 20 countries and regions.

The product also earned second prize in China’s Medical Devices Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. RheoFit has already partnered with major organizations such as the Chinese Athletics Association, Italy’s leading supermarket chain Esselunga, and Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), one of the world’s most prestigious trail running events.

Founded in 2023 in Shenzhen by a team of young people, RheoFit emerged from a shared passion for fitness. “When we were choosing a direction for the company, everyone voted for what they cared about most — and it turned out, we all loved sports,” Sun recalled.

But passion wasn’t the only driver. At the time, the Chinese Government was rolling out new policies to support the development of rehabilitation medicine. “We realized we were both potential users and builders in this space,” Sun explained.

“We saw a real opportunity to combine robotics with musculo-skeletal health to create products that solve real problems.” The result was the RheoFit A1, a compact, portable device designed to automatically relieve muscle tension and fascia tightness throughout the body. It’s like having a massage chair that fits in your gym bag — or a personal rehab coach that’s always on call.

An easy-to-use product

Users control the device via a mobile app that offers multiple massage modes tailored to the body’s needs. Whether you’re lying on a yoga mat at home or finishing a session at the gym, the auto roller provides a recovery experience inspired by professional therapists and athletic coaches.

At the heart of the RheoFit A1 is the company’s Deep Power technology and a personalized recovery recommendation algorithm.

“Deep Power is our integrated drive system,” said Sun. “We had to build a motor that’s compact yet powerful enough for users weighing over 150 kilograms. It also needed to be quiet, cool, and safe to use, so we completely re-engineered the internal rotor structure, heat dissipation system, and noise control. Together, these innovations make up our Deep Power system,” Sun explained.

On the software side, RheoFit’s algorithm helps customize each user’s experience. “We found users wanted not just an automatic tool, but one that thinks for them,” said Sun.

“In rehab centers, therapists tailor routines based on habits and needs. We’ve built that intelligence into our app so that every user gets a smart, personalized recovery plan,” Sun added.

RheoFit’s future vision

The A1 is currently aimed at professional athletes and serious fitness enthusiasts, but RheoFit’s long-term vision is to bring smart massage robotics into the homes of everyday consumers.

“Our early models are built for professional use,” says Sun. “But we’re already developing generic consumer versions.”

According to Sun, these consumer models will make smart recovery tools more accessible. “Our goal is to make advanced massage technology affordable and inclusive — so more people can experience its benefits.”

Looking ahead, RheoFit’s ambition is to combine AI, robotics, and sensor technology to create a truly intelligent massage system — one that feels like having a personal rehabilitation therapist. “In the future, our products won’t just massage you — they will communicate, assess, and even ask about your recovery,” Sun stated.

“It will know which areas are prone to fatigue and adjust treatment accordingly. Just like a real therapist, it will check in on your progress and fine-tune its approach,” Sun said.