

Here, it’s not just about the number of muscle contractions-the force per muscle contraction is also critical.Īs an example, if two cyclists can sustain a cadence of 90rpm (equivalent to 90 individual muscle contractions per minute) then the cyclist that generates more force per pedal stroke is producing more work per minute and will sustain a greater speed. With all factors being equal, success is determined by the cyclist who can sustain the most force (power) during the time trial. One of the best examples is cycling time trials. A running exampleĪs an example, a runner completing a marathon in 2hrs 30-at a running cadence of 180spm-would perform over 13,000 muscle contractions per individual muscle (quadriceps, hamstring, gluteus maximus, etc).


This is a key fitness component and crucial for any endurance sport, and many team sports. We can define muscular endurance as the ability of a muscle, or a group of muscles, to repeatedly exert a force (contract) for an extended period. Muscular Endurance: Definition and Exercises for Sport What is Muscular Endurance?
