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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffYips are involuntary wrist spasms that occur most commonly when golfers are trying to putt. However, the yips can also affect people who play other sports — such as cricket, darts and baseball.
It was once thought that the yips were always associated with performance anxiety. However, it now appears that some people have yips that are caused by a focal dystonia, which is a neurological dysfunction affecting specific muscles.
Some people have found relief from the yips by changing the way they perform the affected task. For example, a right-handed golfer might try putting left-handed.
References
- Adler CH. Sports-related task-specific dystonia: The yips. In: Stacy MA. Handbook of Dystonia. New York, N.Y.: Informa Healthcare; 2007:209.
- Kartha N. Dystonia. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. 2006;22:899.
- Olanow CW. Hyperkinetic movement disorders. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2906012. Accessed March 31, 2011.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 31, 2011.
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