Which movement is an example of a closed kinetic chain?

• A. Air squat
• B. Barbell bench press
• C. Seated leg extension
• D. Bicep curl

Answer: (A)

Closed kinetic chain movements occur when the end of the limb is fixed to a surface, so multiple joints move in a connected way while the distal segment remains anchored. In an air squat, your feet stay planted on the floor, anchoring the distal segments, and you move through the hips, knees, and ankles together. That fixed end and multi-joint involvement define it as a closed kinetic chain exercise. The other examples involve the distal segment moving freely (hands or feet aren’t fixed to a surface), which is characteristic of open kinetic chain movements. So the air squat is the example of a closed kinetic chain.