While Spastic Cerebral palsy refers to rigidness in muscle movement, Athetoid Cerebral Palsy (dyskinectic) refers to high or low muscle tone. This means that the muscles are either too tight or extremely weak. The individual is unable to exercise any control on the movement of muscles and experiences great difficulty in performing the simple acts of even sitting and standing. Normal tasks are beyond them and this type of cerebral palsy can be very frustrating for the parents and the child. This is attributed to a buildup of bilirubin in the infant's blood. Not only does this cause jaundice, but it also damages the cerebellum or the basal ganglia. Certain medications also contribute to the increase of bilirubin. Infections and blood incompatibility between mother and child that destroy red blood cells often produce in its wake high levels of bilirubin. This condition is referred to as kernicterus, which is responsible for athetoid cerebral palsy. With an increase in medical knowledge about early detection of bilirubin and ways to combat it, the number of children afflicted with athetoid Cerebral palsy has declined.

We know that all our actions are triggered as a consequence of signals that are processed in the brain. Any damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia in the midbrain would disrupt the processing and involuntary movement results. As the muscles in the arms, face and body refuse to obey, coordinated movements and body posture are affected. This manifests itself while speaking, eating, reaching out or trying to grasp objects. All these actions become next to impossible. As the child has no control over the movements, even sleep could be disturbed. Because of low muscle tone, the everyday actions of standing up erect, sitting or walking become very difficult. Generally athetoid cerebral palsy is not confined to a particular area of the body. It involves the entire body. However it is also seen that children with Athetoid CP are very intelligent, sometimes much more than the average child is.

Like spastic cerebral palsy, athetoid CP can be nerve wracking for the child and the parents. The child has normal impulses and a sense of curiosity that any other child has. Unfortunately, a child with athetoid CP is unable to reach out, touch and learn with the same ease and dexterity. This is rather frustrating for it and the child is unable to sustain its interest long enough to really succeed. Tremendous encouragement on the part of the parents will sustain its desire to make progress that is often slow and awkward. With patience and determination however there will be considerable improvement in the basic skills of eating, sitting and standing. Physical therapy, speech therapy and yoga poses can increase muscle tone and cause improvement in coordination.