It’s no longer a secret. Physical activity can also be good for the mind. In the context of a highly analytical treatment, it was shown that two sports seem to have a particular effect on the fight against depression.
Physical exercise has many advantages. It helps take care of the heart, reduce pain, maintain joints and reduce body fat for the benefit of muscle mass. When it comes to mental health, sports are an important tool for people who suffer from anxiety or sleep disorders. Several studies have shown that fifteen to twenty minutes of exercise a day can create many benefits. Researchers at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California examined the benefits of two specific sports on depressive symptoms.
Such activities are hiking, i.e. long walks (hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on paths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Religious pilgrimages existed much longer, but include walking long distances for a spiritual purpose associated with specific religions) and surfing, i.e. the activity of “riding” the waves, usually at sea, towards the shore using a surfboard. Previous studies have shown that both of these activities provide additional benefits beyond physical activity, but these studies have been few and without research background.
What the recent research in the USA proved
Specifically, (the paper entitled “A randomized controlled trial of surf and hike therapy for U.S. active duty service members with major depressive disorder” https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-022-04452-7) the study authors Kristen H. Walter, Nicholas P. Otis, Travis N. Ray , Lisa H. Glassman, Jessica L. Beltran, Kim T. Kobayashi Elliott, and Betty Michalewicz-Kragh wanted to investigate the effects of surfing therapy and hiking on the level of depressive symptoms. They devised an experiment. Participants were 96 active-duty military personnel referred to the “wounded and sick wellness program” at Naval Medical Center San Diego.
All participants suffered from major depressive disorder as assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 7.0 (MINI-7). They were enrolled in the surfing or walking therapy programs for the first time in the present study.
Participants were randomly assigned to either hiking or surfing treatment 48 participants in each program. Both of these programs consisted of 6 consecutive weekly sessions, each lasting 3 or 4 hours. The surf therapy program was conducted at a public beach in San Diego and the walking therapy program was conducted at various locations throughout San Diego County. Additionally, participants undergoing surf therapy were also offered yoga exercises before each surf session.
Participants were assessed before the start of the program, after the end of the program, 3 months after the end of the program and within each session. Before starting the program, participants also provided their demographics, service characteristics, and information about the treatment they were currently using.
Reduction of depressive symptoms
The researchers also assessed participants’ satisfaction with each program using the Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8). Approximately 77% of participants completed the designated intervention, i.e. did not miss more than two sessions, and 78.1% of participants completed assessments three months after the study.
The results showed that depressive symptoms were significantly reduced through the sessions. Participants who attended more therapy sessions, either hiking or surf therapy, had less severe symptoms after the study, on average. These results did not depend on the drugs taken during treatment or psychotherapy programs.
There was no difference between walking and surfing therapy in how much they reduced depression symptoms. However, participants who received the surfing treatment were more likely to regress, that is, to be able to return to their normal social functioning three months after the study, compared to those who received the walking treatment.
It was also found that the reduction in symptoms remained three months after treatment in both groups.
“The present study provided support for surfing and walking therapies as effective adjunctive interventions for service members with major depressive disorder, and participants were highly satisfied with both programs,” the study authors concluded.
“The results showed that there were significant reductions in clinical and self-reported depressive symptoms in all groups.
“Reductions in clinician-rated depressive symptoms were large, clinically significant, and greater among military members who attended more sessions. The programs were also associated with statistically and clinically significant improvements in self-reported depressive symptoms, and the effects were stronger among those who participated in pharmacotherapy.”
The study makes an important contribution to understanding the effects of physical activity on depressive symptoms. However, it should be noted that the study was conducted on active duty military personnel. Results in other groups or the general population may not be the same.
The researchers also assessed participants’ satisfaction with each program using the Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8). Approximately 77% of participants completed the designated intervention, i.e. did not miss more than two sessions, and 78.1% of participants completed assessments three months after the study.
The results showed that depressive symptoms were significantly reduced through the sessions. Participants who attended more therapy sessions, either hiking or surf therapy, had less severe symptoms after the study, on average. These results did not depend on the drugs taken during treatment or psychotherapy programs.
There was no difference between walking and surfing therapy in how much they reduced depression symptoms. However, participants who received the surfing treatment were more likely to regress, that is, to be able to return to their normal social functioning three months after the study, compared to those who received the walking treatment.
It was also found that the reduction in symptoms remained three months after treatment in both groups.
“The present study provided support for surfing and walking therapies as effective adjunctive interventions for service members with major depressive disorder, and participants were highly satisfied with both programs,” the study authors concluded.
“The results showed that there were significant reductions in clinical and self-reported depressive symptoms in all groups.
“Reductions in clinician-rated depressive symptoms were large, clinically significant, and greater among military members who attended more sessions. The programs were also associated with statistically and clinically significant improvements in self-reported depressive symptoms, and the effects were stronger among those who participated in pharmacotherapy.”
The study makes an important contribution to understanding the effects of physical activity on depressive symptoms. However, it should be noted that the study was conducted on active duty military personnel. Results in other groups or the general population may not be the same.
