Kinetic chain is a term that is used to describe the way that a human body moves where the muscles, bones and joints are linked together as a chain to produce a movement. Open and closed kinetic chain movements differ in the aspects of how the chain moves. The difference is based on which segment of the chain is fixed and which segment moves. Exercising or training in a specific kinetic chain yields its own significant benefits. We will discuss more about this in this blog.
In an Open Kinetic Chain (OKC) a part that is farthest from the body moves freely, like the hand in bicep curls or the leg in leg extension exercise. In Closed Kinetic Chain (CKC) the part that is farthest (distal segment) is fixed and does not move, e.g. when performing push-ups the hand is fixed to the ground, and during squats the foot is fixed to the ground.
Benefits of Open Kinetic Chain Exercises
The key benefit of OKC would be that it isolates the muscle and movement that we are working on. This helps us to rehabilitate by focusing on the injured muscle and the movement pattern that the sport demands. Example would be to work on quadriceps muscle strength to enhance kicking power using Knee Extension Curls against graded resistance. OKC exercises can be used to improve strength and Range of motion of a specific muscle or a joint. OKC works better for muscle bulking. Some exercises in OKC include: Upper body – Bench press, Biceps curls, Chest fly, Lat pull-down, Triceps extension; Lower body – Hamstring curl, Seated knee extension, Calf pumps.
Benefits of Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises
With CKC, where the distal part is fixed, the movement has to occur in more than one joint in the kinetic chain. CKC has its own perks by being an exercise form that is more functional, improves stability, mobility and co-ordination between joints. Examples of Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises include squats, deadlifts, lunges, leg presses etc. The primary benefit of this exercise is the ability to exercise numerous segments and muscle groups simultaneously.
Either form of exercise has its own clinically significant usage during different phases of rehabilitation. Studies performed on ACL injured athletes concluded that the combination of both forms of exercises proves to be effective rather in isolation. Conventionally, OKC was employed for shoulder rehabilitation for its ease of use and the idea that most sport involved OKC movements. Further studies demonstrated that a combination of both at the right time periods is more effective.
References:
1. Karandikar N, Vargas OO. Kinetic chains: a review of the concept and its clinical applications. PM and R. 2011 Aug 31;3(8):739-45.
2. Glass R, Waddell J, Hoogenboom B. The effects of open versus closed kinetic chain exercises on patients with ACL deficient or reconstructed knees: a systematic review. North American Journal of sports physical therapy: NAJSPT. 2010 Jun;5(2):74. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2953392/
3. Hyde TE, Gengenbach MS. Conservative management of sports injuries. Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2007. Available from: http://bit.ly/1OreHbG
Author: Balavignesh, Physiotherapy Intern
