If this isn’t therapeutic, nothing is. Photo: Tyhe Reading
The physiological effects of participation in sport and physical activity are not only widely known, they’re some of the best established findings in research literature.
With regard to all of the other benefits of participation in sport identified in the research literature (i.e., psychological and social benefits and improved mental health), the evident benefits appear to be an indirect outcome of the context and social interaction that is possible in sport rather than a direct outcome of participating in sport (Andrews, 2003).
As Stephenson (2002) noted, children tend to move to the more intimate, enclosed spaces indoors when they are upset or anxious. The outdoors offers a rich landscape of sensory experiences that stimulates the whole body. On the other hand, indoors, where air, temperature, sound, smell, and texture is regulated, the sensory range is much more limited.
Surfing, a sport practiced outdoors in medium that is in constant motion, appears to be an asset compared to traditional sports. It has a broader approach, covering several areas of occupational performance as well as various physical and psychosocial skills of the individual, and it does it in one all encompassing activity. It can have a significant role to play in the life of children with disabilities, as well as in children without. It can promote physical well-being, combat discrimination, build confidence and a sense of security, as well as play an important role in the healing and rehabilitation process for all children affected by crisis, discrimination and marginalization.
Well-designed surfing programs with organized and supervised activities can offer important opportunities for leadership development, discipline, teamwork, and personal and professional growth.
Advances in technology, ranging from surfboards to wetsuits make participation in surfing more inclusive.
So can surfing be considerable as a therapeutic activity?
Occupational therapists consider that people are occupational beings inserted in a social context. As occupational therapy’s domain stems from professional interest in human beings’ ability to engage in everyday life activities, the broad term that occupational therapists use to capture the breadth and meaning of everyday life activity is occupation.
An occupation is defined as: “activities of everyday life, named, organized, and given value and meaning by individuals and a culture. Occupation is everything people do to occupy themselves, including looking after themselves, enjoying life, and contributing to the social and economic fabric of their communities.” (Law et al., 1997)
Surfing can be a complete and integral activity, taking into account the huge amount of features associated with not only performance in areas of human occupation and performance skills, but also characteristics of the context (Lopes, 2006).
Thus, we can identify four major factors intervention in practice centered with surfing:
1. Aquatic Environment (Water Physical Properties) – Important in the functional rehabilitation (balance, strength, flexibility); stimulating and relaxing effect; absence of gravity, improves mobility; improves cardio-respiratory capacity; integral muscular work; pleasure.
2. Environment – Individual Interaction (Sensory Integration in an environment rich in stimuli): Environmental rich in sensory stimuli (water, sand, seaweed, rocks, aquatic fauna); Awareness for the environment protection; Help finding healthier ways of interaction with the surrounding world;
3. Individual – Coach / Therapist Interaction (works concepts like expression of feelings and emotions): The trust relationship between teacher / therapist allows the individual to explore their intra-personal conflicts and find solutions; the expression of emotions; look/gaze, physical presence, touch, movement; sharing feelings; working the intrapersonal and interpersonal concept; improved self-esteem.
4. Group Interaction (works concepts such as socialization, Leadership, Inter- help) – Contribute in a playful way, to the motivation of a group; establishing a suitable climate for interpersonal interaction; develops social skills; develops concepts of leadership, mutual respect, and mutual help.
SENSORY INTEGRATION THROUGH SURFING
Surfing offers a wide range of sensory stimuli (Lopes, 2010):
Visual – reflection and refraction of light on the ocean surface associated with the constant motion of the waves.
Gustatory / olfactory – The intense saltiness of the sea, and the smell of the sea and algae.
Tactile / Proprioceptive – Buoyancy, sliding over the surface of the sea, and the simple passage of the hands through the water distal movements as they drop into the wave, or tactile stimulation of the foot on the sand.
Auditory – The sound of the waves and movement of the sea.
Vestibular: Constant imbalance and rebalance inherent to the activity.
In short, surfing can and should be seen as an added value in the prevention and treatment of many pathological conditions, contributing to social inclusion, avoidance of a sedentary lifestyle and stress, improvement of self-esteem and encourage teamwork as well as to stimulate protection of the environment and quality of life.
