Surfing has several health advantages, including: Paddling provides 1 cardiovascular fitness. 2 Shoulder and back strength: Paddling will develop these muscles. Leg and core strength are the third and final components. Strong legs and a strong core will keep you upright once you're standing on the board. Balance training is also important for surfers who want to avoid injury. Surfing can be good for your mental health too. It's been shown that people who surf regularly have lower rates of anxiety and depression than those who don't. There may be some sort of psychological benefit to being in the water, even if you aren't actively trying to save yourself! Finally, surfing is said to have therapeutic properties when used in conjunction with other treatments for physical ailments. A study conducted by Australian researchers found that people who surfed twice a week for one month reported significant improvements in their knee pain levels compared with those who didn't ride the waves. The scientists concluded that surfing may be effective in reducing pain from other sources as well, not just joint problems. They suggested that future research should focus on additional factors such as frequency and duration of surfing sessions to see what effects they have on pain relief. The main thing is, don't worry about what kind of health benefits you get from surfing. Just go out there and have fun!