June 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 34

MILITARY
Promoting Health
and Wellness
As studies continue to affirm recreation's
positive influence on physical
and mental health, the military
is using recreation to support service
members' well-being and mission
readiness. " Recreation is now
part of a bigger picture and is being
used as a tool in a long-term holistic
plan that considers domains of
wellness, what we call Comprehensive
Airman Fitness, through mental,
physical, social and spiritual
wellness, " says Scott. " Recreation
directly feeds into these domains
and helps ensure our warfighters
can achieve resiliency and total
wellness that helps them better perform
and do their jobs. "
Scott points to a 2019 study (tiny
url.com/5ctpbj6z) during
74 active-duty
which
service members
took part in a surf therapy program
through the Naval Medical Center
San Diego during a six-week period.
Participants conducted selfassessments
at the start and end
of the study, as well as after each
surf therapy session. According
to the study, " Immediate benefits
of surf therapy included significantly
reduced depression/anxiety
and increased positive affect. As a
complementary intervention, surf
therapy may improve depression,
anxiety, and PTSD [post-traumatic
stress disorder] symptoms with
potentially unique benefits on affect. "
This study is one of many
that demonstrate how effectively
recreation increases wellness and
resilience among service members,
affirming the military's efforts to
prioritize recreation as a tool to
enhance readiness and well-being
and support service members
when they return home from deployment.
" More and more studies
have shown the direct positive correlation
of recreational programming
and easing mental stressors
and ailments within the military
community, " says Scott. " Research
has indicated that activities - such
as
fly
fishing,
standup
paddleboarding,
yoga and other activities
- can be a source of intervention
and help armed forces members
cope with depression, anxiety and
[PTSD], as well as other disorders,
and improve overall psychological
well-being. "
Lisa Sexauer, director of fleet
readiness
for
the
Commander,
Navy Installations Command
in Washington, D.C.,
recalls a
favorite example of the transformative
power of recreation within
military communities. While attending
an annual meeting, Sexauer
listened to a programmer describe
her team's efforts to launch
a walking club at their installation.
She displayed a photo of the
participants
sitting on bleachers
during their first gathering. Among
them, one stood out to Sexauer, a
service member looking down at
the ground. When the programmer
asked an audience member to join
Sheppard Outdoor Recreation leads a
hike in Texas.
34 Parks & Recreation | JUNE 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHEPPARD OUTDOOR RECREATION
http://www.tinyurl.com/5ctpbj6z http://www.tinyurl.com/5ctpbj6z
June 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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