The "twisties" is a phenomenon in gymnastics where a gymnast loses control of their body while making twists through the air, making them unable to complete skills to their usual ability. It is a mental performance issue that many top gymnasts have experienced, and it can be dangerous because one wrong move can cause serious injury. The twisties can set in when doing high-level elements, typically on floor or vault, and it becomes difficult to compartmentalize the exact element a gymnasts body is attempting. It is a strange phenomenon where someone can no longer do a twisting skill theyve done many times in the past. Despite the cute-sounding name, it can be dangerous for gymnasts because of the unknown of not being able to control their body while doing these extremely dangerous skills. Gymnasts often require a lot of muscle memory to learn their tricks, especially when they are up in the air, and many gymnasts work so hard to get their moves right that sometimes they stop trusting their muscle memory. When a gymnast experiences the twisties, they become disoriented, and their brain tells them to stop doing the skill because it feels that the skill is not safe for their body. If a gymnast experiences the twisties, it is important to make sure they are physically safe by taking a break from doing the skill that they have the twisties on.