Gender and Muscular Endurance

Introduction

Wellness is defined by Robbins, Powers and Burgess1 in A Wellness Way of Life as an integrated and dynamic level of functioning oriented toward maximizing potential, dependent on self-responsibility. Wellness consists of many different dimensions including achievement in emotional, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, environmental, social, and physical dimensions. Focusing on the physical dimension, it becomes obvious that physical fitness is essential for maximum wellness in men and women. Physical fitness is the capacity of the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles to function at optimal efficiency (Robbins et al, 2002). A few ways to test for physical fitness is to measure cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, and flexibility. I hypothesize that men will be able to perform at a higher level in the muscular endurance area than women because men are able to develop stronger muscles.

Methods

A sample was taken of college students in a Personal Health Lab. The students were given one minute to complete as many sit-ups and push-ups they could and then record their results. The males and females reported their results to the classroom instructor, and an average for each of the tasks, was calculated.

Results

The averages were calculated as follows: males completed an average of 53 sit-ups and 44 push-ups. Females completed an average of 51.3 sit-ups and 28.4 push-ups.

Conclusion

Research on the overall strength of men and women was conducted. Men are able to develop large and bulky muscles because their bodies produce the hormone testosterone. Women are very unlikely to gain as much muscle strength as a male would unless she is taking anabolic steroids and spending many hours doing extremely demanding weight training. Women have approximately 20 percent lower maximal oxygen uptake and fewer red blood cells than men. Women also have about 10 to 15 percent less hemoglobin, and so their blood has a lower oxygen-carrying capacity which may limit their endurance (Robbins et al, 2002).

The hypothesis that men will be able to perform at a higher level in the muscular endurance area than women because men are able to develop stronger muscles, was partially correct.