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