In songs and essays, surfing has always been praised as a way to relieve brains and strong bodybuilding. However, relevant scientific evidence has been limited.
According to a report on the Washington Post website on March 10, the U.S. Navy has launched a $1 million research project to find out whether surfing has therapeutic value, especially for people with post-traumatic stress disorder. Depression or hard-to-sleep soldiers.
Researchers say that surfing is a great hope for therapy. This is a challenging exercise in an outdoor environment. People surf alone or in groups. When talking with other surfers on the beach, surf soldiers who do not want to participate in traditional group therapy programs will open their hearts to talk about the common experiences of both parties.
Dr. James Lamar, a doctor at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego and a volunteer for the surfing program at the hospital, said: “For many of our patients, exercise is the best medicine and it is better to exercise in the natural environment. The path to a healthy life, that is, the kind of life they had before they were injured.”
According to a 2013 study by the Congressional Research Service of the United States, between 2001 and 2011, the number of confirmed cases of mental illness among servicemen was increased by 65%. The study showed that the number of cases of post-traumatic stress disorder increased by 650%, and over the decade, cumulatively more than 900,000 people (including demobilized personnel) were diagnosed with at least one mental illness.
The above-mentioned naval study led by the clinical psychologist Kristen Walter analyzed the questionnaires that the military responded to before, during, and after attending a weekly surfing program that lasted six weeks.
The researchers said that the first 14 active marines and sailors participating in the project had shown signs of major depression, some of whom showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The results of the initial study showed that surfing can relieve insomnia symptoms and anxiety, and reduce participants’ overall perception of negative aspects of life.
