Abstract
The yips are a set of conditions associated with intermittent motor disturbances that affect precision movement, especially in sports. Specifically, skilled golfers suffer from the yips, although its clinical characteristics and pathophysiology have not been well-studied. We surveyed skilled golfers to characterize their yips-related symptoms, to explore potential confounding factors associated with the yips. Golfers’ demographic information, golfing-career-related history, musculoskeletal status and manifestations of the yips are surveyed. Among the 1576 questionnaires distributed, 1457 (92%) responses were received, of which 39% of golfers had experienced the yips. The median age and golfing careers were 48 and 28 years, respectively. Golfers who had experienced the yips were older and had longer golfing careers and more frequent musculoskeletal problems than those without experience of the yips. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a longer golfing career and musculoskeletal problems were independent factors associated with yips experience. More severe musculoskeletal problems were associated with higher odds of experiencing the yips. A positive association between the yips and musculoskeletal problems was also observed. The yips have similar characteristics to task-specific movement disorders, with a detrimental effect caused by excessive repetition of a routine task. These findings support the notion that the yips are a type of task-specific dystonia.
Highlights
IntroductionPhysical practice is essential for the acquisition and maintenance of skilled movements in humans
Prolonged practice may lead to maladaptive changes in the sensorimotor system, resulting in performance deterioration [1,2,3], and it is known that people engaging in occupations that involve extensive repetitive movements of a specific body part get affected by task-specific dystonia [4,5]
Based on the fact that professional golfers need excessive repetition of fine motor training for long durations to master a skilled movement, these findings suggest that the yips could be considered as a type of task-specific focal dystonia [1,17,18]
Summary
Physical practice is essential for the acquisition and maintenance of skilled movements in humans. Prolonged practice may lead to maladaptive changes in the sensorimotor system, resulting in performance deterioration [1,2,3], and it is known that people engaging in occupations that involve extensive repetitive movements of a specific body part get affected by task-specific dystonia [4,5]. Professional athletes who perform excessive repetitive training sometimes experience an intermittent decline in performance not caused by musculoskeletal injury; it is conventionally known as “the yips” in golfers [6], similar problems occur in many sports [7]. “the yips” is common among golfers, the pathophysiology and epidemiology of the yips remain poorly understood. Sports psychologists or physiotherapists often advise players that the yips is a “misplaced focus” rather than a particular ailment [11]
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