Which condition occurs when the foot or hand is in contact with the ground, bearing weight?

Which condition occurs when the foot or hand is in contact with the ground, bearing weight?

• A. Open Chain
• B. Closed Chain
• C. Eccentric
• D. Isometric

Answer: (B)

In this context, the key idea is the difference between a fixed/distal segment and a movable one. When the foot or hand stays planted on a surface and bears weight, the limb is in a closed-chain position. That fixed end means movement at one joint requires coordinated movement at multiple joints, and the weight of the body is transmitted through the limb to the ground. Think of standing, squatting, or doing a push-up—the hands or feet remain in contact with the surface while the body moves. In contrast, open-chain movements have the end segment free to move, like a leg curl or bicep curl, where the hand or foot isn’t fixed to a surface and isn’t bearing weight. Eccentric and isometric describe types of muscle contraction (lengthening under load and static contraction, respectively) rather than whether the limb is weight-bearing, so they don’t define the scenario here.

In this context, the key idea is the difference between a fixed/distal segment and a movable one. When the foot or hand stays planted on a surface and bears weight, the limb is in a closed-chain position. That fixed end means movement at one joint requires coordinated movement at multiple joints, and the weight of the body is transmitted through the limb to the ground. Think of standing, squatting, or doing a push-up—the hands or feet remain in contact with the surface while the body moves.

In contrast, open-chain movements have the end segment free to move, like a leg curl or bicep curl, where the hand or foot isn’t fixed to a surface and isn’t bearing weight.

Eccentric and isometric describe types of muscle contraction (lengthening under load and static contraction, respectively) rather than whether the limb is weight-bearing, so they don’t define the scenario here.