ABSTRACT
Endurance can be considered to be the ability to persist with a physical task. This applies whether the task is by a small muscle group or is considered to be wholebody exercise. Endurance is important in the workplace when physical exertion is part of the job expectation, or when repetitive movements are performed by small muscle groups (i.e., hand movements). Endurance is typically measured by performing a constant muscular effort at some percent of maximal voluntary force, or by repetitive voluntary contractions until a specific task can no longer be performed. Females tend to have better endurance than males when asked to perform constant or repetitive contractions at some fixed percent of maximum. There is no gender difference when maximal effort contractions are considered. Aging does not have a specific effect on endurance, but performance of a fixed task, such as repetitively lifting a given object, will be impaired in proportion to the decrease in maximal voluntary strength. Endurance is improved by training or practice and results in performance of the task with less disturbance to homeostasis.
