Central Pattern Generators (CPG’s)

A Central Pattern Generators or CPG’s are located at different levels in the spinal cord and brain stem.  They are a hard-wired component of the spinal cord and brain stem, which coordinates a pattern of muscle movements with muscle groups to perform stereotypical commonly used movements.  So, stimulation of CPGs produce walking, trotting or galloping muscle pattern movements of the horse.  Non-biomechanical movement CPGs are involved with muscle movements for breathing, chewing and swallowing to name a few.  Initiation of CPGs function start in the brain but the CPG is influenced by nervous impute to the CPG.  Proper CPG function and timing is required for correct muscle and joint function to occur in a horse’s gait.

When a CPG dysfunction occurs muscle function and timing is affected therefore producing an arrhythmic gait.  Also, each CPG has an indicator muscle that becomes paretic or weak due to improper nerve impulse, which are found with muscle testing.  Weak indicator muscles can fatigue sooner and become painful.  Since all joints are stabilized by the muscle units going across the joint.  If a muscle function is weak the joint stabilized by that muscle unit will be unstable or have increase motion or vibration in it.  The laxity or increase motion in a joint is a cause of inflammation or arthritis in the joint.

The CPG dysfunction occurs when pain from intraosseous faults, subluxations, muscle spasms along the spinal column and imbrications inhibit the CPG.  Intraosseous faults (IOF) are like deep bone bruises just under the surface of a bone.  The body will restrict the muscle pull on these areas to reduce the pain response from them.  Subluxation as some chiropractors call them are areas of restricted motion of the joints mostly between two vertebrae.  Another way of saying it is the vertebra are stuck and not articulating correctly.  Imbrications are a jamming or compression of two vertebrae together.  The restricted motion decreases impute to the spinal cord creating a deficit in the CPG.   Therefore, correcting the CPG dysfunction, improves the timing and function of the muscles involved in movement for riding.  Also improving the joint stability reduces the risk of arthritis or lameness.

The most common Central Pattern Generators are listed on this webpage.  They are the ones generally involved in the biomechanical movement of the horse.  Deficits of the CPGs produce arrhythmic gaits, sore muscles, inflamed joints and lameness.  These pathological issues are not generally corrected with basic chiropractic adjustments.  Along with each CPG listed is a corresponding photo with the weak indicator muscle identified by a blue circle and a red marked area indicating the location of the chiropractic manipulation.

To see photos and descriptions of the Central Pattern Generators click on this webpage.