What is muscular endurance best defined as?

Muscular endurance is defined as the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to sustain repeated contractions against resistance for an extended period of time without experiencing fatigue. This definition highlights the importance of stamina and the capacity to continue performing physical activity over a duration, which aligns precisely with the chosen answer. Muscular endurance is crucial in various physical activities, where the muscles must work continuously, such as in distance running, cycling, or performing multiple repetitions of an exercise.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of muscular fitness. For instance, the ability to exert maximum force pertains to muscular strength, which is distinct from endurance as it only involves short-duration high-intensity efforts. The ability to move joints through a full range refers to flexibility, which involves the range of motion around a joint and does not encompass the concept of endurance. Lastly, the ability to maintain balance relates to stability and coordination rather than endurance. Each of these aspects is essential in different contexts but does not accurately define muscular endurance.