Surf therapy is analogous to

nature therapy Nature therapy, sometimes referred to as ecotherapy, forest therapy, forest bathing, grounding, earthing, Shinrin-Yoku or Sami Lok, is a practice that describes a broad group of techniques or treatments using nature to improve mental or physical ...

and is defined by the ''International Surf Therapy Organistion'' in 2017 as a type of

mental health Mental health is often mistakenly equated with the absence of mental illness. However, mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how individuals think, feel, and behave, and how t ...

intervention that uses

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suita ...

and the

ocean The ocean is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of Earth. The ocean is conventionally divided into large bodies of water, which are also referred to as ''oceans'' (the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Indian, Southern Ocean ...

environment to promote physical and

psychological well-being The six-factor model of psychological well-being is a theory developed by Carol Ryff that determines six factors that contribute to an individual's psychological well-being, contentment, and happiness.Seifert, T. A. (2005). The Ryff scales of psyc ...

. It combines surf instruction, surfing activities, and structured individual and group activities to support individuals in achieving personal goals and improving their overall health. Surf therapy is sometimes called ''adaptive surfing'' and can become a pathway to para surfing. It can also be related to the concepts of ''blue care'' or ocean therapy and

thalassotherapy Thalassotherapy (from the Greek word ''thalassa'', meaning "sea") is the use of seawater as a form of therapy. Note: Thalasso therapy is a sub-definition under the listing for Thalasso. It also includes the systematic use of sea products and shor ...

History

During the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...

, sea swimming was widely believed to have significant health benefits leading to its popularity as a therapeutic and recreational activity. Seaside spa towns became popular destinations in the UK and throughout Europe with physicians recommending sea bathing for various ailments and illnesses. In 2010 the

NHS The National Health Service (NHS) is the term for the publicly funded health care, publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom: the National Health Service (England), NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and Health and Social Care (Northern ...

Cornwall Primary Care Trust (PCT) has started a trial six-weeks UK-wide referral-based surf therapy programme called ''Wave project'' for vulnerable young children and adults aged 8-21. In 2011 the non-profit ''Wave Project CIC'' (community interest company) was established to deliver the programme full scale. In

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

surf therapy uses findings and approaches developed within Adaptive physical education framework. In 2011 a

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

local organisation ''Waves for Change,'' headed by an English former graduate Tim Conibear, received a grant in 2017 to organise a meeting of practitioners from different countries. Thus the

International Surf Therapy Organisation International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...

(ISTO) was created and has been since monitoring the research work and surf therapy programmes that have been developed around the world. There is a large number of such programmes worldwide targeting different individual profiles: women who have been victims of violence, young people from difficult social backgrounds, people with disabilities, and even war veterans. One of the first international surf therapy instructor certification programs run by the

International Surfing Association The International Surfing Association (ISA) is the world governing authority for surfing, SUP racing, SUP surfing, para surfing, bodyboarding and all other wave riding activities. The ISA is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. ...

was launched in LaJolla, California in 2020.

Measurement

In recent years a number of academic studies were conducted to understand better the concept and it’s effective

therapeutic A therapy or medical treatment is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a medical diagnosis. Both words, ''treatment'' and ''therapy'', are often abbreviated tx, Tx, or Tx. As a rule, each therapy has indications an ...

application as well as to systematise the body of knowledge and the practices for further programming and field application.

External links

The Wave Project

International Surf Therapy Organisation

Roxy Davis Foundation

Association of Adaptive Surfing Professionals

References

{{reflist Therapy Surfing Mental health

History

Measurement

See also

External links

References