The Science of Surf Therapy: New Research on Chronic Pain Relief

A groundbreaking new study from the Pain Trauma Institute, in collaboration with USC and Groundswell Community Project, reveals that surf therapy can significantly reduce chronic pain and promote nervous system healing. Through guided sessions rooted in trauma-informed care, participants living with conditions like chronic pelvic pain, Lyme disease, and long COVID reported a 50% average decrease in pain intensity, as well as increased emotional vitality and deep brainwave shifts associated with rest and regulation. Beyond the data, the ocean offered something deeper — a sense of agency, awe, and belonging. Surf therapy reconnected participants not just to their bodies, but to the belief that healing is possible, even when medicine falls short. This research marks an early but powerful step toward integrating surf therapy into chronic pain care — not as a cure, but as a co-therapist.

Groundswell Surf Therapy Research Published finding impact in Body Acceptance, Resilience, and Emotional Regulation. Read full article and give gratitude to the individuals and community.