Closed chain exercises are those rehabilitation exercises where the moving limb is continually in contact with the surface of the exercise equipment, eg cycling.
Page updated May 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Closed chain exercise
At no point in this mini squat is the limb not in contact with a surface.
Closed versus open chain
It is not always easy for patients to decide if an exercise is open chain or closed chain.
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Quote from peer-reviewed paper:
"....During [open kinetic chain] exercise, the distal segment of the body parts is not fixed, and it can move freely. Knee extension in the sitting position and straight leg raising (SLR) in the lying position are examples of OKC exercises. On the other hand, during [closed kinetic chain] exercise, the distal segment of body parts remains stationary on the ground...."
Citation: Ng WH, Jamaludin NI, Sahabuddin FNA, Ab Rahman S, Ahmed Shokri A, Shaharudin S. Comparison of the open kinetic chain and closed kinetic chain strengthening exercises on pain perception and lower limb biomechanics of patients with mild knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial protocol. Trials. 2022 Apr 15;23(1):315. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06153-8. PMID: 35428274; PMCID: PMC9012068.
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Quote from peer-reviewed paper:
"Based upon existing published data it is difficult to make a case for superiority of either open or closed chain kinetic exercise rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction."
Citation: Jewiss D, Ostman C, Smart N. Open versus Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises following an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sports Med (Hindawi Publ Corp). 2017;2017:4721548. doi: 10.1155/2017/4721548. Epub 2017 Aug 17. PMID: 28913413; PMCID: PMC5585614.
Examples of closed chain exercises
Knee exercises that are closed chain include:
- leg press
- mini squats
- step-ups
- standing wall slide
Forum discussions
- "define open chain exercises?"
Patients trying to understand the difference between open and closed chain exercises.
Relevant material -
A-Z of knee exercises -
2018 - A-Z of Rehabilitation Exercises - by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
eBook - Cornerstones of Early Knee Rehabilitation
Easy to read principles with illustrated exercises.