Hector the hedgehog: my desk companion
12.9.2024
Translation: Julia Graham
A small rubber ball with spikes lives under my desk. It keeps me on my toes in my home office and gives me hours of free massages. This little office porcupine even got himself a name.
As a mother of school-age children, working from home’s a blessing. But given I’m a part-time fitness trainer, I also know it’s terrible for my body. On home office days, my pedometer only really gets going in the evenings. Your legs usually have hours of snoozing under the desk before then, feeling heavier and heavier until your back eventually starts to ache.
Obviously, a little walk to break up the day would be good. But between working, cooking lunch and driving the kids to their activities, I hardly ever get round to it. For a while now, a little hedgehog has been helping me under my desk: a massage ball, to be precise.
As I type, I keep rolling the spikey ball backwards and forwards under the soles of my feet. I do this for hours on end, completely obliviously. So much so that it’s now become automatic. Hector – that’s what I call my beloved office companion – doesn’t cure all the physical aches and pains from sitting all day, but at least he alleviates them.
1. Stimulates blood circulation
The mini-massage on the soles keeps your feet and legs constantly moving. This has an invigorating effect on your whole body, stimulating blood circulation and thus the cardiovascular system. You get even greater benefit without socks. If you don’t have a massage ball to hand, a tennis ball will do.
2. Increases concentration
There’s an added advantage to stimulated blood circulation: more oxygen gets transported to the brain. This in turn increases your ability to concentrate. Touch also plays a part. According to a German sports physician (site in German), the tactile stimuli on the soles of the feet send signals to the brain that enhance concentration.
3. Trains foot muscles
All the while, your feet get a mini strength workout, as the ball strengthens those small muscles in the feet. If you have any muscle tension, the spikes loosen and release it.
4. Stimulates foot reflex zones
Massage balls are known for stimulating reflex zones in the feet. To be honest, I’ve no idea where exactly the different points are and which organs they correspond to. I’m told the reflex point for the kidneys can be found in the centre of the sole of the foot. Sounds good. But above all, it feels good.
5. Relieves pain
Speaking of soothing, this constant massaging has a relaxing effect and eases pain – not just in the feet. If my back starts to pinch, I jam the ball between my body and the door and let it circle over the pain points. Every now and then I stop to massage my palms. Just because it feels good.
Source: Katja Fischer
Most of the time, however, Hector is under the table so I can use him to massage my feet while I work. «But how do you stop the ball rolling away?» quibbles a colleague. He’s got a point. Because of his shape, Hector does escape me from time to time. Then I have no choice but to crawl under my desk and look for him. What did I tell you? He keeps me moving and on my toes.
Header image: Katja Fischer
Katja Fischer
Senior Editor
Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.
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