What is the definition of muscular endurance?

Muscular endurance is defined as the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to sustain repeated contractions against a resistance for an extended period of time. This definition emphasizes the capacity to maintain a level of performance over time, rather than just generating a high force in a single effort. Individuals with high muscular endurance can perform more repetitions of a given exercise at a sub-maximal load without fatigue.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of muscular function. Generating maximal force in one repetition pertains to muscular strength, which measures the maximum weight that can be lifted once. Total strength refers to the overall capacity of all muscles in the body, rather than the endurance of specific muscle groups. Flexibility during prolonged activities relates to the range of motion of muscles and joints but does not directly address the ability to sustain forceful actions over time.

Thus, the identification of muscular endurance as the ability to generate a sub-maximal force repeatedly captures the essence of this critical aspect of physical fitness, making it the correct choice.