Closed Chain Exercise Is Crucial

One of the more recently popular fads is suspension training, using straps like the TRX, to create a bodyweight workout. While these movements can be easily performed with other cheaper, simple equipment, such as a pullup bar, one of the reasons TRX is so effective is its nature of being a closed-chain exercise. Closed-chain exercise occurs when the hand or foot is fixed and cannot move, remaining in constant contact with a surface, usually the ground. Some examples include lunges, squats, push-ups and pull-ups. The opposite of these movements are called open chain exercises, such as leg extensions and bench press. Closed-chain movements usually involve multiple joints and muscles, causing a much more efficient stimulus to allow the body to...

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