Surfing eases symptoms of PTSD, research finds

Ask a committed surfer about their time in the waves and you may well hear about the invigorating nature of their activity as the adrenaline and endorphins kick in: the sense of well-being, the escape from the stresses of everyday life.

And now, research by a San Diego State University lecturer shows surf therapy — a longstanding approach to physical and mental well-being that draws from the calming effects of the ocean — can benefit military veterans experiencing PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is generally caused by witnessing or experiencing a disturbing event and can bring about anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, and other symptoms.

Jonathan Ossie, a marketing lecturer at SDSU’s Fowler College of Business, researched the effects of surf therapy on military veterans and found how surf therapy could have a positive impact on both the physiological and psychological effects of PTSD. His findings were published last month in Frontiers in Psychology.

“To many people, the power of the ocean has restorative and therapeutic qualities,” said Ossie, who worked with a California-based nonprofit organization, Operation Surf, to conduct his research. “I wanted to learn if surf therapy could potentially aid military veterans experiencing PTSD since published research on the subject is extremely limited.”

Forty-one military veterans or active-duty personnel — 27 men and 14 women — who had been diagnosed with PTSD were recruited for the seven-day study. Operation Surf provided instruction, equipment and adaptive apparatuses (to accommodate physical or psychological limitations) to each participant to encourage maximum engagement.

The surf activities also included instruction on yoga, stretching and peer support sessions, which the participants could continue at the conclusion of the study.

Data collection

The participants also wore wristband health trackers on a 24/7 basis to record sleep data and heart rate variability while simultaneously completing Generalized Anxiety Disorder surveys (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-8) surveys to determine their level of anxiety and depression before, during, and 30 days after the surfing activities.

Among Ossie’s findings:

• Depression: Depression levels dropped by 44% for all participants immediately following the program, with females showing the greatest improvement. Levels rose only slightly after 30 days.
• Anxiety: 40% of participants reported the highest classification of anxiety before the program. This fell to 10% immediately after the study but rose slightly to 14% 30 days later.
• Sleep: Both deep sleep and REM sleep improved during the program but declined slightly after 30 days.
• Heart rate variability: Decreased by 12% during the program, but Ossie noted more data is needed since learning to surf could also increase stress levels.

While all participants showed marked improvement in their physical and mental conditions during the surfing activities, they were able to maintain some level of improvement a month after their conclusion. Female participants tended to show the biggest improvement immediately following the study, but males were more likely to demonstrate continued improvement after 30 days.

Ossie noted while results were strongest during the surfing activities, participants who continued to practice yoga and stretching, maintained the interpersonal relationships they developed during the program, and continued to surf may also account for post-program improvements.

“These outcomes suggest that programs that engage veterans in non-clinical, peer-supported environments may be more approachable and less stigmatizing than traditional care,” said Ossie. “Future research may want to explore how these types of programs can complement traditional care, reduce access barriers and foster long-term engagement in mental health recovery.”

The author received no external financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this research