Athetosis

Athetosis, a peculiar form of spasmodic movement affecting the fingers and more rarely the toes, which sometimes follows upon an attack of paralysis. The movements of athetosis differ from those of chorea (q.v.), in that they are much more slowly executed; they cease as a rule during sleep, but at all other times there is an inability to maintain the affected member in one position, whence the name of the condition, athetosis meaning "without fixed position."