Whose muscle endurance is stronger, male or female?

When you hear the word "athletic," what kind of person does it appear to be in your image? Most must imagine the figure of a man who is strong and muscular. Since prehistoric times, men have been regarded as stronger and more muscular than women in general. However, modern research offers a different perspective on muscle endurance in women and men.

So whose endurance is stronger, female or male? Check out the answer below!

What is meant by muscular endurance?

Muscle endurance is the muscle's ability to contract over a long period of time. For example, when you do the plank exercise. You have to hold the full weight of your body using your arm and stomach muscles for a long time. The stronger the resistance of your muscles, the longer you can hold the position.

The endurance of women's muscles was actually stronger

A number of studies have shown that men do have greater muscle mass than women. However, large muscle mass does not guarantee that your muscles have strong endurance.

A study conducted by a team of experts from the University of Colorado showed that women were up to two times more resistant than men. Another study in The Indian Journal of Medical Research also revealed the same thing, that women have more muscles to withstand pressure than men.

In these studies, health and exercise experts found that when exercising, strong and large muscles actually have lower endurance. Men whose muscles are big and strong are usually unable to withstand heavy weights for long periods of time. Even though men are able to withstand very heavy loads.

Meanwhile, the women who participated in the aforementioned studies were generally unable to withstand too heavy a load. However, these women are able to withstand the weight for a very long time.

Various factors affect muscle endurance

Apart from differences in muscle mass, there are several other factors that affect the muscular endurance of men and women. The following are the various factors.

1. Differences in hormone levels

Women have higher levels of the hormone estrogen than men. Estrogen plays an important role in maintaining body muscles. That way, the muscles are more resistant to pressure and contractions for a longer time.

Meanwhile, men have higher levels of the hormone testosterone than women. This hormone is responsible for building muscle mass and strength in both men and women. However, because of the high testosterone hormone, men tend to exercise harder and with heavier weights. Because of this, a man's muscles tire easily and cannot hold contractions for too long.

2. Different types of exercise

Both women and men frequently undergo physical endurance training. However, men generally choose sports with heavy intensity but shorter time. This is because many men want to build muscle fast.

Meanwhile, most women may exercise in order to lose weight. So, they tend to choose sports with moderate intensity but longer time. Because of these different types of exercise, women are becoming more accustomed to holding body muscle contractions longer than men.

3. Women's blood flow is heavier

A study by a team led by exercise science expert Sandra K. Hunter in the Journal of Applied Physiology revealed that women have a heavier flow of blood to their muscles than men. This makes a woman's muscles more resistant to pressure and contractions. However, experts state that further research is still needed to support these findings.