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This Episode's Show Notes
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If you have heard about eccentric exercise but are unsure of the benefits, what it is or how to do it, this episode is your primer!

Eccentric muscle contractions generate more force with less energy than other types of muscle contraction and are therefore one of the best ways to get stronger. The mechanism of eccentric contraction within the muscle is a little complicated but Katy offers a simple analogy involving two hair combs!

Katy and Jeannette offer some examples of how you can incorporate eccentrics into your movement plan with the empowering message that you can get a lot stronger doing only half an exercise. Can’t do a pull-up? Not a problem, train the eccentric half of the movement—lowering down from the pull-up bar—and you will reap the strength rewards.

Also in this episode, Katy speaks with Pack Matthews of Ikaria Design and creator of the Soul Seat®, the original and adjustable cross-legged chair. Katy is using one for her podcast set up and she and Pack talk about the origin of the chair, how the design has changed over time and Katy’s experience with it.

CHAPTERS

(0:07:08) - Muscle Contraction: Three types

(0:15:56) - Sarcomere: Actin, Myosin, and Titin

(0:26:57) - Get Stronger Doing Half of an Exercise

(0:41:00) - Listener Question: 'use it or lose it' brought to you by Earth Runners

(0:47:40) - Interview with Pack Matthews of Ikaria Design

BOOKS, ARTICLES AND RESEARCH MENTIONED

Want to Get Stronger and Avoid Injury, Try This, New York Times article on eccentrics
Eccentrics: Get Stronger Doing Half Of An Exercise, Katy Bowman
The Chair by Galen Cranz

MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR SPONSORS:

Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10
Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10
Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities, take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT
Sweet Skins, organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 15% off with code DNA15

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This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses

Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram take a deeper look into three recent headlines in the body-nerd world.

First up, recent research has shown that our skeletal muscles remember training at the protein level - no brain required! This is exciting research and Katy and Jeannette discuss the implications for exercise over the lifespan. Second, they dig into a recent study of uphill walking; the research suggests it is cheaper to take the steeper route, but energy efficiency might not be the only consideration. Finally in response to the online noise about recent changes to the CDC developmental guidelines, Katy and Jeannette explain what has really changed and whether it should have caused such an upset.

CHAPTERS

02:50 - Muscle Memory

17:12 - Steeper is Cheaper

28:02 - Changes in the CDC milestones

43:22 - Listener Question sponsored by Peluva: Is it inevitable that our body and parts wear out?

ARTICLES AND RESEARCH MENTIONED

New Explanation of Muscle Memory in Science Daily
Skeletal Muscle Proteomic Memory by Hulmi et al (2025)
Steeper is Cheaper in Outside Magazine
Graded Walking Energetics by Looney et al (2025)
CDC Developmental Guidelines
Evidence Informed Milestones by Zubler et al (2022)

MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR SPONSORS:

Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for walking and higher impact activities, take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT
Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10
Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office
Sweet Skins, organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 15% off with code DNA15
Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10
Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10

Try Katy's Virtual Studio Free for 7 Days!

This Episode's Show Notes
Join Our Newsletter: Movement Colored Glasses

Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram continue their discussion about the skeleton. In this episode, they break down the best approach to taking care of your bones using a government framework: Strong, Steady and Straight. They use this framework to discuss exercise and bone loading at three life-stages: a growing skeleton, a mature skeleton and a vulnerable skeleton. Listen to this episode to design a movement plan for your bones.

Also in this episode, Katy talks to Mike Dally, founder of Earth Runners, minimalist earthing sandals. Katy has walked more miles in Earth Runners than in any other shoe and Katy and Mike talk about her favourite features; from the non-slip foot bed to the replaceable straps and laces. Mike explains earthing technology and testing and describes their latest product that can ground any minimal shoe.

Books Mentioned:

Grow Wild by Katy Bowman
Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman
My Perfect Movement Plan by Katy Bowman

Research Mentioned:

LIFTMOR Randomized Controlled Trial by Watson et al (2018)
Aquatic Jump Training Review by Mullenax et al (2021)

Made Possible by Our Dynamic Collective of Wonderful Sponsors:

Venn Design, beautiful floor cushions and ball seats that keep you moving at home or at the office; Sweet Skins, beautiful organic hemp and cotton clothing that is stylish, flexible and designed to move with you, take 15% off with code DNA15; Earth Runners, minimalist sandals that mimic being truly barefoot through their grounding technology, take 10% off with code DNA10; Peluva, Five-toe minimalist sports shoes ideal for higher impact activities, take 15% off with code NUTRITIOUSMOVEMENT; Smart Playrooms, design and products to keep you and your kids engaged and active at home, take 10% off monkey bars, rock wall panels and holds with code DNA10 and; Ikaria Design, creators of the Soul Seat®, a height adjustable chair that allows you to sit in diverse shapes including cross-legged, take 10% of new inventory with code DNA10.