Hi folks,
Has anything got anything on the differences in open and closed chain exercises, recruitment patterns, mechanics, physiology, anything.
I know chins are better than pulldowns, the track is better than the threadmill. But why.
I am not looking for the answers, books, links, general directions.
I’d appreciate the help.
Cheers guys
Could anyone give me some help with this,
How do you differentiate between an open chain and closed chain exercise.
What criteria should an exercise meet to be classed as an open or closed chain exercise.
Thanks for any help
Sounds like the training propaganda from the HIT crowd.
With them, it means: “Our stuff is good. Your stuff is bad.”
Don’t worry about it.
Closed chain exercises are those exercise where the end of the chain is “connected” to not-movable object (with great mass) usually ground (squats, lunges…) or bar (pull up, chin up, dips, push-ups).
Open chain exercises are those exercise where the end of the chain is “connetced” to movable object (leg extension, leg curl, pull-down etc).
The problem arises because the chain have two ends! So you can consider squat as closed chain if you reffer to legs, and open if you reffer to shoulders as “chain ends”!
Usually, closed chain exercises for the legs are considered more “functional” than open ones, because your legs are allways connected to ground (except for kicking).
This this can go into futher discussion, especially regarding what should be considered closed and what opened, what should be considered functional and what not… etc… etc…
I hope I helped!
That’s precisely the arguement I was getting at! The words “functional” and “sport specific” are never far behind in this type of discussion.
Use the training you’ve found to be safe and effective and avoid arguements over semantics and “flavour of the month” training methods .
Thank You so much guy’s
When I start to hear things like, the differences between the open vs closed chain exercise would require a whole new article, or the recruitment patterns vary, I began to question if I was missing something.
My thinking was more about what would be best for the athlete without the whole functional, comes from the core, one set to failure, primal movement pattern type of thing.
I think I will stick with what I know works well.