Effects of open and closed kinetic-chain exercises on the muscle strength and muscle activity of the ankle joint in young healthy women.
Mi-Kyoung Kim, Byung-Su Kong, Kyung-Tae Yoo
PMID 29200620WHAT IT FOUND
Four weeks of ankle exercises increased plantar and dorsiflexion strength in healthy women.
Both open-chain and closed-chain methods worked equally well, but neither changed muscle activity levels. The strength gains came from the exercises themselves, not from altering how the muscles fired.
Key findings
01Both open-chain and closed-chain exercise groups showed significant improvements in plantar flexion and dorsiflexion muscle strength after four weeks.
02There was no significant difference in muscle strength improvements between the open-chain and closed-chain groups.
03Neither exercise type resulted in significant changes in muscle activity (EMG) from pre-test to post-test.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only healthy young women, so results may not apply to older adults, men, or patients with pathology. The sample size was small (n=20), limiting the generalizability of the findings. The lack of change in muscle activity suggests the exercises did not improve neuromuscular control, only raw strength. The study did not assess functional outcomes like balance or pain, only strength and EMG.
Declared interests
No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these exercises improve motor control or muscle activation patterns. The study found significant strength gains but no change in EMG activity, meaning the muscles got stronger without necessarily changing how they are recruited or coordinated.