Closed Chain Exercise

Original Editors - Vanderpooten Willem

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Introduction

Closed kinetic chain exercise or closes chain exercise (CKC) is an exercise or movement where the distal aspect of the extremity is fixed to an object that is stationary.
In the physiotherapy, closed kinetic chain exercises are used before open kinetic chain exercises.
Here are some characteristics of CKC and the differences with open kinetic chain exercises: [1]

Characterisctic	Closed kinetic chain exercices	Open kinetic chain exercises
Stress pattern	Linear	Rotary
Number of joint axes	Multiple	One primary
Nature of joint segments	Both segments move simultaneously	One stationary, other mobile
Number of moving joints	Multiple joint movements	Isolated joint motion
Planes of movement	Multiple (triplanar)	One (single)
Muscular involvement	Significant co-contraction	Isolation of muscle group, minimal muscular co-contraction
Movement pattern	Significant functionally oriented	Often non-functional

Characteristic Closed kinetic chain exercises Open kinetic chain exercises
Stress pattern Linear Rotary
Number of joint axes Multiple One primary
Nature of joint segments Both segments move simultaneously One stationary, other mobile
Number of moving joints Multiple joint movements Isolated joint motion
Planes of movement Multiple (triplanar) One (single)
Muscular involvement Significant co-contraction Isolation of muscle group, minimal muscular co-contraction
Movement pattern Significant functionally oriented Often non-functional

In general, fitness experts, physical therapists, and athletic trainers agree that closed chain exercises are better for you:
1. Closed chain exercises better mimic activities of daily living, which means they improve your “functional” fitness.
2. Closed chain exercises work many muscle groups at once. That’s great for the reasons above, but also because you can get more benefit in less time.
3. Closed chain exercises are safer for your joints—especially the knee joint, which is very vulnerable to stress and injury. The force involved in closed chain exercises like lunges and squats is compressive, meaning it actually stabilizes the joint and helps strengthen it. In contrast, open chain exercises, like knee extensions or hamstring curls produce shear force, which stresses the knee joint (and the ACL) and is more likely to result in injury. [2]

Biomechanical and neurophysiologic factors

Biomechanical:

CKC techniques emphasize the sequential movement and placement of functionally related joints and therefore require coordinated and sequential muscle activation patterns to control proper joint movement.

Neurophysiologic:

Closed kinetic chain exercises stimulate the proprioceptive system by proprioceptive feedback to initiate and control muscle activation patterns. [3]

Exercises

1. Closed chain upperbody kinetic exercises

Push-ups and their derivatives, pull-ups or chin-ups, and dips. These concentrate on a co-contraction of the M. triceps, M. biceps, M. deltoids, M. pectoral may and min, and lower back for stabilization in various ratios depending upon angle and leverage.

2. Closed chain lowerbody kinetic exercises

Squats, deadlifts, lunges, power cleans, and leg presses. These concentrate on a co-contraction of the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, soleus, and gastrocnemius muscles. The joints of movement include the knee, hip, and ankle

Clinical Bottom Line

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