Alcohol has inconsistent effects on short-term measures of muscular endurance, but may cause negative long-term effects, as it increases cortisol, decreases testosterone, and decreases muscle protein synthesis.[1] Dehydration can also limit muscular endurance performance in and of itself.[2][3]
Can alcohol impair muscular endurance?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Alcohol may have inconsistent short-term effects on muscular endurance but can negatively affect it in the long term by increasing cortisol, decreasing testosterone, and reducing muscle protein synthesis. Additionally, the dehydration caused by alcohol consumption can further impair muscular endurance performance.