Tessa Fontaine hits the sidewalks of the River Arts District to experience rucking, a low-impact exercise based on military training activities.

However, carrying a too heavy backpack can give rise to health problems like spinal disc herniation – also known as a slipped disc – and cartilage wear and tear if you aren’t careful.

It's like hiking in the countryside or mountains with a heavy backpack, only in an urban setting. Jogging with weights is sometimes called rucking as well, says Andreas Barz, a sport scientist at ...