Open Kinetic Chain (OKC)
· OKC exercises are exercises that are distal segment of the body move freely in space.
· Non-weight bearing which mean completely unrestricted movement in space of a peripheral segment of the body.
· Independent joint movement and movement of the body segment only distal to the moving joint.
· Muscle activation for these exercises are occurs predominantly in the prime mover.
· Resistance is applied to the moving distal segment.
· Example of OKC exercise and the analysis :
Arm Curl (right hand)
Phase | Joint | Action | Muscle | Contraction |
Starting and ending | Wrist | Flexion | Flexor carpi radialis Flexor carpi ulnaris Palmaris longus Flexor digitorum superficialis Flexor digitorum profundus Flexor pollicis longus | Isometric |
Elbow | Extension | Biceps brachii Brachialis Brachioradialis | Eccentric | |
Movement | Wrist | Flexion | Flexor carpi radialis Flexor carpi ulnaris Palmaris longus Flexor digitorum superficialis Flexor digitorum profundus Flexor pollicis longus | Isometric |
Elbow | Flexion | Biceps brachii Brachialis Brachioradialis | Concentric |
Kicking (right leg)
Phase | Joint | Action | Muscle | Contraction |
starting | Hip | Hyper extension | Gluteus maximus Hamstring: -biceps femoris -Semitendinosus -semimembranosus | Concentric |
Knee | Flexion | Hamstring: -biceps femoris -Semitendinosus -semimembranosus | Concentric | |
Ankle | Plantar flexion | Plantaris Tibialis posterior | Concentric | |
Toe | Flexion | Flexor digitorum longus Flexor hallucis longus Lumbrical interossei Palmar interossei | Concentric | |
Movement | Hip | External rotation | Iliopsoas: -psoas major -iliacus Gluteus maximus | Eccentric |
Adduction | Adductor longus Adductor magnus Adductor brevis | Concentric | ||
Knee | Extension | Quadriceps: -rectus femoris -vastus lateralis -vastus medialis -vastus intermedius | Concentric | |
Ankle | Plantar flexion | Plantaris Tibialis posterior | Concentric | |
Eversion | Fibularis longus Fibularis brevis | Concentric | ||
Toe | Extension | Extensor digitorum brevis Extensor digitorum longus Extensor hallucis longus | Concentric | |
Ending | Hip | Flexion | Iliopsoas: -psoas major -iliacus | Eccentric |
| | Adduction | Adductor longus Adductor magnus Adductor brevis | Eccentric |
Knee | Extension | Quadriceps: -rectus femoris -vastus lateralis -vastus medialis -vastus intermedius | Eccentric | |
Ankle | Neutral | Tibialis anterior Tibialis posterior Plantaris Gastrocnemius | Isometric | |
Toe | Extension | Extensor digitorum brevis Extensor digitorum longus Extensor hallucis longus | eccentric |
Closed Kinetic Chain (CKC)
· CKC exercises are exercises in which the distal end of the segment is fixed to a supporting surface.
· weight bearing exercises which mean movement in peripheral segment meets with considerable external resistance.
· interdependent joint movements.
· Movement of the body segment may occur distal or proximal to the moving joint.
· Muscle activation for these exercises are occurs in multiple muscle groups, both distal and proximal to the moving joint.
· use of axial loading.
· Example of CKC exercises and the analysis :
Push up
Phase | Joint | Action | Muscle | Contraction |
Starting | Wrist & hand | Hyper extension | Extensor carpi radialis Extensor digitorum Extensor digiti minimi Extensor carpi ulnaris Extensor pollicis brevis Extensor indicis | Concentric |
Elbow | Flexion | Biceps brachii Brachialis brachioradialis | Concentric | |
Shoulder | Horizontal abduction | Pectoralis major Anterior deltoid Biceps brachii coracobrachialis | concentric | |
Shoulder girdle | Adduction | Rhomboid major Rhomboid minor Trapezius | Concentric | |
Movement | Wrist & hand | Flexion | Extensor carpi radialis Extensor digitorum Extensor digiti minimi Extensor carpi ulnaris Extensor pollicis brevis Extensor indicis | Isometric |
Elbow | Extension | Triceps brachii Anconeus | Concentric | |
Shoulder | Flexion | Deltoid Coracobrachialis | Concentric | |
Shoulder girdle | Abduction | Pectoralis minor Serratus anterior | Concentric | |
Ending | Wrist & hand | Flexion | Flexor carpi radialis Flexor carpi ulnaris Palmaris longus Flexor digitorum superficialis Flexor digitorum profundus Flexor pollicis longus | Isometric |
| Elbow | Flexion | Triceps brachii Anconeus | Eccentric |
Shoulder | Horizontal abduction | Pectoralis major Anterior deltoid Biceps brachii coracobrachialis | Eccentric | |
Shoulder girdle | Adduction | Serratus anterior Pectoralis minor | eccentric |
Rowing exercise
Phase | Joint | Action | Muscle | Contraction |
Starting and ending | Foot & ankle | Dorsi flexion | Tibialis anterior Extensor hallucis longus Extensor digitorum longus Peroneus tertius | Concentric |
Knee | Flexion | Hamstring: -biceps femoris -semitendinosus -semimembranosus | Concentric | |
Hip | Flexion | Iliopsoas: -psoas major -iliacus | Concentric | |
Trunk | Flexion | Rectus abdominis Internal oblique External oblique | Concentric | |
Shoulder girdle | Abduction and elevation | Trapezius Rhomboid Pectoralis minor | Concentric | |
Shoulder | Flexion | Latissimus dorsi teres major Teres minor Posterior deltoid Infraspinatus | Eccentric | |
Elbow | Extension | Biceps brachii Brachialis brachioradialis | Eccentric | |
Wrist & hand | Flexion | Flexor carpi radialis Flexor carpi ulnaris Palmaris longus Flexor digitorum superficialis Flexor digitorum profundus Flexor pollicis longus | Isometric | |
Movement | Foot & ankle | Plantar flexion | Gastrocnemius Soleus | Concentric |
Knee | Extension | Quadriceps: -rectus femoris -vastus lateralis -vastus medialis -vastus intermedius | Concentric | |
Hip | Extension | Gluteus maximus Hamstring: -biceps femoris -semitendinosus -semimembranosus | Concentric | |
| Trunk | Extension | Erector spinae | Concentric |
Shoulder girdle | Adduction and depression | Lower trapezius Rhomboid Pectoralis minor | Eccentric | |
Shoulder | Extension | Latissimus dorsi Teres major Posterior deltoid Teres minor Infraspinatus | Concentric | |
Elbow | Flexion | Biceps brachii Brachialis Brachioradialis | Concentric | |
Wrist & hand | Flexion | Flexor carpi radialis Flexor carpi ulnaris Palmaris longus Flexor digitorum superficialis Flexor digitorum profundus Flexor pollicis longus | Isometric |