Endurance

For other uses, see Endurance (disambiguation).
Twins Tashi and Nungshi Malik on endurance trek at the foothills of the Himalayas

Endurance (also related to sufferance, forbearance, resilience, constitution, fortitude, persistence, tenacity, steadfastness, perseverance, stamina, and hardiness) is the ability of an organism to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue.

The term is often used in the context of aerobic or anaerobic exercise. The definition of "long" varies according to the type of exertion – minutes for high intensity anaerobic exercise, hours or days for low intensity aerobic exercise. Training for endurance can reduce endurance strength[verification needed][1] unless an individual also undertakes resistance training to counteract this effect.

When a person is able to accomplish or withstand more effort than previously, their endurance is increasing. To improve their endurance they may slowly increase the amount of repetitions or time spent; in some exercises, more repetitions taken rapidly improve muscle strength but have less effect on endurance.[2] Increasing endurance has been proven to release endorphins resulting in a positive mind.[citation needed] The act of gaining endurance through physical activity decreases anxiety, depression, and stress, or any chronic disease[dubious – discuss].[3] Although a greater endurance can assist the cardiovascular system this does not imply that endurance is guaranteed to improve any cardiovascular disease.[4] "The major metabolic consequences of the adaptations of muscle to endurance exercise are a slower utilization of muscle glycogen and blood glucose, a greater reliance on fat oxidation, and less lactate production during exercise of a given intensity."[5]

The term stamina is sometimes used synonymously and interchangeably with endurance. Endurance may also refer to an ability to persevere through a difficult situation, to "endure hardship".

In military settings, endurance is the ability of a force[clarification needed] to sustain high levels of combat potential relative to its opponent over the duration of a campaign.[6]

  1. ^ Hickson, R.C. (1980). "Interference of strength development by simultaneously training for strength and endurance over a long period". European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. 45 (2–3). Springer Verlag: 255–63. doi:10.1007/BF00421333. PMID 7193134. S2CID 22934619.
  2. ^ "Muscular Strength and Endurance". HealthLinkBC: Physical Activity Services. 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  3. ^ Hansen, Cheryl J.; et al. (2001). "Exercise Duration and Mood State: How Much Is Enough to Feel Better?" (PDF). Health Psychology. 20 (4): 267–75. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.20.4.267. PMID 11515738. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  4. ^ Iwasaki, Ken-ichi; Zhang, Rong; Zuckerman, Julie H.; Levine, Benjamin D. (2003-10-01). "Dose-response relationship of the cardiovascular adaptation to endurance training in healthy adults: how much training for what benefit?". Journal of Applied Physiology. 95 (4): 1575–1583. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00482.2003. ISSN 8750-7587. PMID 12832429. S2CID 8493563. Archived from the original on 2017-12-03. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  5. ^ Holloszy, J.O.; Coyle, E.F. (1 April 1984). "Adaptations of skeletal muscle to endurance exercise and their metabolic consequences". Journal of Applied Physiology. 56 (4): 831–838. doi:10.1152/jappl.1984.56.4.831. PMID 6373687. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  6. ^ Headquarter, Department of the Army (1994), Leader's Manual for Combat Stress Control, FM 22-51, Washington D.C.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)