Closed kinetic chain exercises

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises (CKCE) are physical exercises performed where the hand (for arm movement) or foot (for leg movement) is fixed and cannot move. The hand/foot remains in constant contact with the surface, usually the ground or the base of a machine (8). These exercises are typically weight bearing exercises, where an exerciser uses their own body weight and/ or external weight.

They are also multi-joint movements, and are labelled as being sport-specific movements. The opposite of CKCE are open kinetic chain exercises.

[edit] Upper Body Exercises

Pushups, handstand pushups and pullups. These concentrate on a co-contraction of the triceps, biceps, shoulder muscles, pectorals, lats, abdominals & lower back for stabilization in various ratios depending upon angle and leverage. Why are they better than open chain exercises?

They:
1 - Make compressive forces, while open-chain ones make shearing forces,
2 - Are nearer to activities of daily living,
3 - Use multiple joints in activity, while open chain ones use a single joint,
4 - Work multiple muscle groups simultaneously rather than concentrating on just one, as many open-chain exercises do.

[edit] Lower Body Exercises

Back Squats, Front Squats leg press, Lunges, power clean, and snatch. These concentrate on a co-contraction of the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, soleus, and gastrocnemius muscles. The joints of movement focused on are the knee, hip, and ankle.

[edit] References

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008)