The Quantification of Muscle Activation During the Loaded Carry Movement Pattern

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 480-490, 2024. The ‘loaded carry’ is a popular resistance training activity that activates core musculature across multiple movement planes while the body is in locomotion. ‘Hold’ exercises are similar to carry exercises but lack the locomotive aspect. Both carry and hold exercises can be completed bilaterally (farmer’s carry (FC) and hold (FH)) or unilaterally (suitcase carry (SC) and hold (SH)). A deeper understanding of muscle activation between the FC and SC and intensity-matched FH and SH might improve their application. Healthy, college-aged individuals were recruited and surface electromyography of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), longissimus (LT), and multifidus (MF) was measured bilaterally using standard procedures. Participants completed time- and intensity-matched randomized sets of the plank, FC, SC, FH, and SH separated by 5-minute rests. A one-way ANOVA was utilized to compare exercises. The FC/FH load averaged 50.7±1.9 kg, where it was used across equally weighted dumbbells. The FC elicited higher activation bilaterally in the LT, MF, RA, and EO, compared to the FH. The SC/SH single-dumbbell load averaged 25.3±0.95 kg. There was greater activation bilaterally in the LT and MF during the SC compared to the SH. However, on the ipsilateral side of the SC, the RA and EO displayed greater activation compared to the SH, but this was not different on the contralateral side. The FC and SC were characterized by increased core muscle activation bilaterally, with the SC exhibiting unique additions to ipsilateral muscle activation