What to Do When Rucking Or Carrying Heavy Loads Hurts

Move Your DNA with Katy Bowman

Dynamic Aging Retreat Oct 3-5 2025

This Episode's Show Notes
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Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram talk about rucking—walking with weight on your back—and other modes of carrying. They touch on the evolutionary history of carrying, carrying in modern Hunter Gatherer populations, rucking in the military and the benefits of fitness rucking.

Jeannette and Katy focus on the challenges associated with rucking particularly pain and discomfort. They explain how different body adjustments—like leaning forward, arching the back, or shifting the hips forward—are responses to offset the backward-pulling force of a heavy load. These shifts help accommodate the extra mass, but if a single adjustment is done repetitively or without muscular support through the core, pain can be the result.

Listen in to discover a more varied and mindful approach to managing your ruck; your low back will thank you!

CHAPTERS

00:06:00 - The Dynamic Collective

00:07:00 - Are Humans Born to Carry?

00:13:00 - Phases of Life and Issues with Fitness Rucking and Carrying in General

00:26:00 - What's Holding You Up? Mindfulness in Rucking

00:38:45 - Listener Question about broken bones, brought to you by Ikaria Design

00:49:00 - A Conversation Between Katy and Jeannette: What Is the Big Movement Question?

BOOKS, ARTICLES AND RESEARCH MENTIONED

My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman
Pain-Free Baby Holding by Katy Bowman
Trunk Muscle Activity In Different Modes of Carrying by Motmans et al 2006
Bone Density and Intramedullary Rods by Kroger et al 2002

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