Can someone explain what “ Twisties” is in gymnastics and is there a similar occurrence in running?

nerves

outabounds wrote:

Curious if someone who is knowledgeable can explain and if this seemingly neurological disorder occurs in running?

Not an expert, but my sister was a competitive gymnast.

It's a condition in which the gymnast has trouble realizing where they are in a particular move. Like a loss of orientation mid-jump.

I imagine it happens in other similar sports such as diving or figure skating, maybe even something like pole vault.

I don't see how it could happen in running, other than actually having vertigo. I suppose that the most equivalent thing would be forgetting what lap you're on. The obvious difference is that in gymnastics it can lead to serious injury or death and in running...well there really aren't consequences other than maybe mistiming your kick.

Just like when golfers get the "yips" and can't putt to save their lives. If there is a running equivalent, it could be akin to Stephanie Garcia's troubles with the water pit in steeple or Brenda Martinez always finding a way to trip/stumble in her races. Garcia had a full blown fear and, IMHO, I think that Martinez just goes blank for a few moments and either accelerates for no reason and runs up someone's heels or gets run into from behind to as she kind of stops running for a split second.

Doped Up Real Estate Broker wrote:

Just like when golfers get the "yips" and can't putt to save their lives. If there is a running equivalent, it could be akin to Stephanie Garcia's troubles with the water pit in steeple or Brenda Martinez always finding a way to trip/stumble in her races. Garcia had a full blown fear and, IMHO, I think that Martinez just goes blank for a few moments and either accelerates for no reason and runs up someone's heels or gets run into from behind to as she kind of stops running for a split second.

Sure, I agree. I still think that biggest difference is that a golfer with the yips isn't going to break their neck (maybe their putter though). Steeple could go bad, but not like some other sports.

There is no application in running. Running is the easiest sport in the world. It takes no athletic ability, talent, or mental ability. You don't even need two legs to run fast anymore. Every single child born without major defects can run by age 2. It's why its hilarious to see the clowns here talk stuff about Simone Biles.

I think vertigo would be the only real good comparison, which I have had during trail ultras but is a result of dehydration and not really a mental block like the twisties seems to be.

Let's see if this adds anything to the many good answers posted while I was typing.

The twisties start when a gymnast loses her sense of where she is, and thus what she needs to do next, during a routine. The twisties are dangerous in two distinct ways. First, if the initial attack causes her to miss a move she can crash or fall and get hurt. Second, and more insidiously, if she starts to worry about whether she's going to have another attack during a routine, that anxiety itself may cause her to lose her concentration and timing leading to a fall.

Given the precision and speed of the routines, timing is everything: Lose your timing and you're cooked.

I don't know of anything like this in running. I can imagine that jumpers and vaulters, who turn upside down, could have the same sort of problems with their sense of where they are, and thus what they have to do next.

If you want to know more, this article has a nice explanation:

https://www.health.com/condition/mental-health-conditions/simone-biles-twisties-gymnastics

alan webbs mental breakdown in races

just gets so nervous he just loses aerobic power

The most similar thing in running is posting on here.

If you need a term, it's jamingreg.

Oh yeah, because people who get to Biles level are usually the quitting type. Must be real easy for someone dedicating their lives to become the best the world has ever seen to just quit. Totally sounds plausible. You obviously know nothing about what it takes to become a world class athlete.

I think we really can't have understanding of what it is (except maybe a polevaluter). She has no body awareness of where she is in the air and her head rotates which causes her to not know when the ground is coming. Many athletes have written about it. It is dangerous. And takes time to regroup and retrain. why it happens is one thing (nerves, pressure, anxiety, whatever), but once it happens you can't just say toughen up and try harder as you might seriously get hurt. People calling her a quitter just don't get the sport.

Probs like bonking in mid air

Anyone here play the piano? When I was a kid I would learn a piece and play it perfectly from memory for weeks. I could think about other things while playing it, like driving. Come a recital, maybe I'd start OK, then at some point my brain suddenly farts and I lose the thread and stumble until I mentally find a place to pick up. Imagine the same thing except you're in mid air and cannot "pick up". Scary.

Interesting. Someone else explained it that if you through yourself into multiple planes you can get disoriented.

As far as running I think I had something similar happen a few years back. I would get very dizzy running. It only happened when I ran. Enough that I would have to sit down mid run. My gait felt different. I felt completely normal when not running. No dizziness ect. It lasted about a year then went away. It almost felt like I was a new runner. I had to figure out how to run. Really weird.

Let me add I was going through extreme stress during this time in my life. Not an expert but I’m thinking Simone was going through extreme stress going into olympics might have brought her “ Twisties “ on.

Anyone have issues running feeling disoriented and dizzy ?

Barringer admitted that she got overstressed and shut down mentally. Biles admitted that shoe got overstressed so she quit knowing she was going to harm her team. Are calling her a liar? I an taking her at her word. But maybe you know better. Was there a threat due to the betting line? Did one of her teammates threaten her family unless they got to take her spot? You are overcomplicating this. She is being honest. The stress got to her so she quit. That is what she said.

Do you have some kind of issues with reading comprehension? Where did I say she didn't quit? You are saying 'easier to quit' that is what I was addressing, I am not disputing the reality of the fact that she quit. But anyone who thinks its 'easy' for someone at that level to up and quit has not an inkling of understanding about what it takes to become world class.

I was a good junior tennis player, but every now and then I’d turn up to training and it’d feel like I was playing left handed. My spatial awareness and timing were gone. Muscle memory, gone. It was absolutely bizarre, and I can’t recall anyone else I played with being able to relate. Having something like that upside down 10ft in the air wouldn’t be fun.