Surfing, a discipline that has become Olympic, and a study which has just been published on the benefits of this sporting practice for mental health.
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Martin Ducret, doctor and journalist at Doctor’s Daily talk to us today of an increasingly popular activity, which has become an Olympic discipline: surfing. And in particular an original study on its benefits, in terms of mental health.
franceinfo: What is this study about?
Martin Ducret: This study, published in the Portfolio of the famous journal Natureestimated in dollars the savings generated by the benefits of surfing on the mental health of 130,000 surfers in the very touristy city of Gold Coast in Australia.
These savings amounted to $5,000 per year per surfer, which makes a total of $650 million annually, which corresponds to reductions in health costs – reduction in medical consultations, taking antidepressants or anxiolytics – but also to increased productivity at work.
By comparison, this impressive figure is 4 times higher than the annual surf tourism profits in this Australian city.
Can we extrapolate these figures to France?
Not exactly, because Australia’s healthcare system works differently to ours. But we can learn from this original study that surfing, in addition to being good for the body and mind, also allows you to save money on your health. No matter the country.
In fact, beyond the cool spirit that this board sport conveys, it is probably for the well-being it provides that surfing has more and more practitioners in France. There are almost 600,000 – and I am one of them – who devote themselves to this discipline, both on the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean, and on the Mediterranean Sea. And yes, contrary to popular belief, there are also waves on the Marseille coast.
But is this sport accessible to everyone? Don’t you have to be young and healthy to do it?
Well no, not necessarily. Unless you want to become the future Olympic champion! “Surfing is possible at any age, whether you are in good shape, have a disability, or suffer from a chronic illness. Initially, we start by gaining confidence in the water (this is aquatic ease), then we look for the pleasant sensation of gliding, first lying on the board, to gradually manage to get up on it. explained Sandra Saint Geours, who is responsible for the development of the national Surf Santé association, which promotes surfing and activities in contact with the ocean as therapy.
The goal of all these activities is to have fun, surpass yourself, gain self-confidence, and feel calm, by reconnecting with the ocean and nature.