Muscular endurance refers to the ability of a muscle or muscle groups to contract or exert force for many successive exertions or repetitions.[1][2] It can also be thought of as a muscle’s ability to resist fatigue. While there are different theories on what exactly produces fatigue in a muscle,[3][4] muscular endurance at least partially relies on the muscle’s ability to remove waste products[5] and prevent a buildup of acidity in the muscle.[6] Other models of fatigue that involve biomechanics, muscle recruitment, cellular mechanisms, and the brain have also been proposed.[3][4]
What does muscular endurance entail?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle or muscle groups to contract repeatedly or exert force over time while resisting fatigue. It involves the muscle's capacity to remove waste products and prevent acidity buildup, and various theories have explored the mechanisms behind muscle fatigue.