Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsA Living ExampleUpper Kinetic ChainLower Kinetic ChainOpen Kinetic ChainsClosed Kinetic Chains
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
A Living Example
Upper Kinetic Chain
Lower Kinetic Chain
Open Kinetic Chains
Closed Kinetic Chains
Kinetic chain is a term used to describe the way a human body moves. Closed-chain exercises mean your body is pushing against a fixed surface while open-chain exercises are freely moving.
These terms are especially relevant inphysical therapy, sports medicine, neuro-rehabilitation, prosthetics,orthotics, and other areas of medicine that focus on the musculoskeletal system.
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This happens as a chain reaction. Medicine borrowed the engineering term kinetic chain to describe this set of linked movements.
This article discusses the kinetic chain as well as examples of open-chain and closed-chain exercises.
The Kinetic Chain: A Living Example
To get a real-life example of the kinetic chain in action, let’s think about what happens when you walk:
Each of these movements causes another. Some of the reactions are automatic, such as #2, while others are a reflex, such as #4.
A kinetic chain can be described as either upper or lower. Kinetic chain exercises are either open or closed.
The upper kinetic chain comprises:
The lower kinetic chain is composed of:
A kinetic chain is considered “open” when the part of the body you’re moving (typically a limb) is loose in space. In other words, the hand or foot is free to move and not pressing against a surface. This allows a muscle or muscle group to act in isolation.
Common examples of open kinetic chain movements include:
Characteristics
Open kinetic chain exercises have several things in common:
Clinical Relevance
Open kinetic chain exercises can be used to improve the strength and function of an isolated muscle or muscle group.
This can be beneficial early in a rehabilitation program or when improving aesthetics, such as for a bodybuilder. However, closed kinetic chain exercises may be more beneficial in some circumstances.
A kinetic chain is considered “closed” when the body part you’re using (usually an arm or leg) is fixed against a hard, unrelenting surface.
When the body part is pressed against a wall or the floor, for instance, resistance is sent back into your trunk. The body parts through which the resistance moves make up the components of the chain for that particular movement or exercise.
Examples of closed kinetic chain exercises include:
Characteristics of closed kinetic chain exercises include:
Because multiple segments are in motion, more muscles contract at the same time in order to stabilize and control movement across multiple joints.
Closed kinetic chain movements are often used to strengthencore musclesand stabilizeposture. A benefit of closed kinetic chain exercises is that the movements they promote often relate better to activities of daily life, so they’re considered more “functional.“
Sometimes, in rehabilitation, a person will use open chain exercises to strengthen an isolated area, then move on to closed chain exercises.
Strengthening Your Core
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kwon YJ, Park SJ, Jefferson J, Kim K.The effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises on dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults.Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2013;25(6):671-674. doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.671Brookbush Institute.Kinetic chain.International Sports Science Association.Kinetic chain exercises: open versus closed.Kwon YJ, Park SJ, Jefferson J, Kim K.The effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises on dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults.J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25(6):671-4. doi:10.1589/jpts.25.671
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kwon YJ, Park SJ, Jefferson J, Kim K.The effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises on dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults.Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2013;25(6):671-674. doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.671Brookbush Institute.Kinetic chain.International Sports Science Association.Kinetic chain exercises: open versus closed.Kwon YJ, Park SJ, Jefferson J, Kim K.The effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises on dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults.J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25(6):671-4. doi:10.1589/jpts.25.671
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kwon YJ, Park SJ, Jefferson J, Kim K.The effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises on dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults.Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2013;25(6):671-674. doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.671Brookbush Institute.Kinetic chain.International Sports Science Association.Kinetic chain exercises: open versus closed.Kwon YJ, Park SJ, Jefferson J, Kim K.The effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises on dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults.J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25(6):671-4. doi:10.1589/jpts.25.671
Kwon YJ, Park SJ, Jefferson J, Kim K.The effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises on dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults.Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2013;25(6):671-674. doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.671
Brookbush Institute.Kinetic chain.
International Sports Science Association.Kinetic chain exercises: open versus closed.
Kwon YJ, Park SJ, Jefferson J, Kim K.The effect of open and closed kinetic chain exercises on dynamic balance ability of normal healthy adults.J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25(6):671-4. doi:10.1589/jpts.25.671
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