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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
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Implantation of Osmotic Pumps and Induction of Stress to Establish a Symptomatic, Pharmacological Mouse Model for DYT/PARK-ATP1A3 Dystonia
Published on: September 12, 2020
Are the yips a task-specific dystonia or "golfer's cramp"?
Charles H Adler1, Debra Crews, Kanav Kahol
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. cadler@mayo.edu
Summary
Golfers experiencing the yips showed excessive wrist rotation during putting, particularly in pronation/supination. This involuntary movement, identified via video analysis, was linked to specific wrist muscle activity patterns.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
Background:
- The yips are a common performance-limiting condition in golf.
- Involuntary movements during the golf swing can significantly impact performance.
- Understanding the biomechanical basis of the yips is crucial for developing interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the joint movements and muscle activity of golfers with and without the yips.
- To identify objective biomechanical markers associated with the yips in golfers.
Main Methods:
- Fifty golfers (25 with and 25 without yips) were analyzed during putting.
- Joint movements were captured using a CyberGlove II, and arm cocontraction was measured via surface electromyography.
- Data were analyzed based on subjective yips complaints and objective video evidence of involuntary movements.
Main Results:
- Subjective yips complaints did not correlate with significant differences in movement parameters.
- Golfers with objectively observed involuntary movements exhibited increased wrist pronation/supination (P < 0.001).
- A trend towards increased wrist flexor/extensor cocontraction was noted in golfers with involuntary movements (P = 0.08).
Conclusions:
- Objective video evidence of involuntary movements, not subjective complaints, is key to identifying yips-related biomechanics.
- Excessive right wrist rotation (pronation/supination) is a significant biomechanical characteristic of the yips in golfers.
- Further research should explore the role of wrist flexor/extensor cocontraction in the yips.
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