Russell Looms,
a biokineticist and part time lecturer, was lecturing to the 2008 third
year sports science students at the University of Stellenbosch and demonstrated
the important benefit of rolling a ball underneath the foot, called the
planter fascia, to release the tension in the muscle line within a few minutes.
At the time, a new tennis or hockey ball (round fairly hard ball) was the only thing to use to achieve the desired benefits.
No custom made or similar product was commercially available for this purpose.
Two weeks later Russell received a call from one of his students’ fathers, Ron Jones, a squash player, coach and product development specialist. Ron had been shown and experienced the very quick results and euphoric sensation by rolling a ball under the feet for only 1 to 2 minutes.
Ron and Russell then met to discuss the various possibilities of developing this concept into a commercially viable product and business. Mariet Smal, a 1st league squash player and physiotherapist from Stellenbosch, joined forces with Russell and Ron and together they started lengthy discussions about the product development.
They experimented, developed and made approximately ten prototypes, which varied in hardness and size, over a period of 6 months, with the expertise of an engineer at Special Plastics Industry (SPI) and suggestions from Medical R&D, to achieve the final product.
Consultations and discussions began with the Medical Research Council, the Sports Science Institute, professional practitioners including physiotherapists, biokineticists, chiropractors, medical doctors, massage therapists, personal trainers, orthotists, prosthetists and various sportsmen and women (many of whom started using the product personally).
At the time, a new tennis or hockey ball (round fairly hard ball) was the only thing to use to achieve the desired benefits.
No custom made or similar product was commercially available for this purpose.
Two weeks later Russell received a call from one of his students’ fathers, Ron Jones, a squash player, coach and product development specialist. Ron had been shown and experienced the very quick results and euphoric sensation by rolling a ball under the feet for only 1 to 2 minutes.
Ron and Russell then met to discuss the various possibilities of developing this concept into a commercially viable product and business. Mariet Smal, a 1st league squash player and physiotherapist from Stellenbosch, joined forces with Russell and Ron and together they started lengthy discussions about the product development.
They experimented, developed and made approximately ten prototypes, which varied in hardness and size, over a period of 6 months, with the expertise of an engineer at Special Plastics Industry (SPI) and suggestions from Medical R&D, to achieve the final product.
Consultations and discussions began with the Medical Research Council, the Sports Science Institute, professional practitioners including physiotherapists, biokineticists, chiropractors, medical doctors, massage therapists, personal trainers, orthotists, prosthetists and various sportsmen and women (many of whom started using the product personally).
