Structure

and
Function
of the
Muscular,
Neuromuscular,
Cardiovascular,
and Respiratory
Systems

Muscular Endurance

PHEC 192
CDR D. D. Peterson, MS, CSCS
Director, Aviation Survival Training Center

Muscular Endurance Defined

Ability of a muscle or group of muscles to
produce a force against an external
resistance

Muscular Endurance Tests

Generally not administered to athletic
populations
Commonly administered to the following
populations:

Children
Military
Law Enforcement
Firefighters

Types of Muscular Endurance Tests

Perform as many repetitions as possible against a
submaximal resistance
Percentage of body mass
E.g., 80% for men / 40% for women (Bench Press to Failure)

Absolute load
E.g., 225 lbs (NFL Combine)

Maintain a prespecified posture for as long as

possible
Difficult to determine recommended time threshold

Field Muscular Endurance Tests

Field tests that use repetitions to failure relate
strongly to maximal muscular strength
Majority of muscular endurance field tests
referenced in literature are specific to the
abdominal musculature
For an exercise to effectively develop
muscular endurance, subject must be able to
perform a minimum of 10 repetitions

Muscular Endurance Tests

Upper Body

Pull-Up
Flexed Arm Hang
Push-Up (General)
Push-Up (Cadence)
Dips

Lower Body
Squat Test
Wall Squat
Quad

Core

Curl-Ups
Partial Curl-Ups
Home Sit-Up Test
Plank
V-Sit

USMC Pull-Ups (Males)

Each pull-up is worth 5 points up
to a maximum of 100 points (20
pull-ups).
Additional pull-ups (beyond 20)
are not counted and do not add to
the score.

Pull-Ups
Age

Min

Max

17-26

20

27-39

20

40-45

20

46+

20

USMC Flexed Arm Hang

(Females)
Score is calculated by
subtracting actual hang time
from the max hang time (70
sec) and deducting two points
for each second of difference.
Will no longer be apart of
USMC PFT as of 01 JAN 2014.

Flexed Arm Hang

Age

Min

Max

17-26

15 sec

70 sec

27-39

15 sec

70 sec

40-45

15 sec

70 sec

46+

15 sec

70 sec

USMC Pull-Ups (Females)

Score is calculated as follows:

3 = 40 points
4 = 65 points
5 = 75 points
6 = 85 points
7 = 95 points
8 = 100 points

Flexed Arm Hang

Age

Min

Max

17-26

27-39

40-45

46+

Pull-ups will replace flexed arm hang beginning 01 JAN

2014 (ALMAR 046/12).

Push-Up (General)

Push-Up (Cadence)

Dips
Dips
Male

Female

Excellent

30+

10+

Above Average

20-29

5-9

Average

10-19

4-5

Below Average

5-9

2-3

Poor

<4

<1

Squat Test

Wall Squat

Quad
Quad
Excellent

Male

Female

3:00+

2:30+

Above Average 2:30-2:59 2:00-2:29

Average

1:30-2:29 1:30-1:59

Below Average 1:00-1:29 1:00-1:29

Poor

< 0:59

< 0:59

Curl-Up / Sit-Up

Partial Curl-Up

Home Sit-Up Test

Plank

V-Sit
V-Sit
Excellent

Male

Female

3:00+

3:00+

Above Average 2:30-2:59 2:30-2:59

Average

1:30-2:29 1:30-2:29

Below Average 1:00-1:29 1:00-1:29

Poor

< 0:59

< 0:59

Questions?