Final answer:
To increase muscular endurance, you should work in a rep range of 12-20 repetitions or more, focusing on lighter weights that allow muscles to sustain contractions over time. This differs from strength training, which uses fewer reps with heavier weights.
Step-by-step explanation:
When working to increase muscular endurance, you would typically work in a higher rep range. Endurance training often involves performing exercises with a lighter weight for a higher number of repetitions, generally around 12 to 20 reps or even more per set. This approach helps muscles to adapt to sustain contractions for longer periods without getting tired.
In contrast to resistance training focused on muscular strength, which involves heavier weights with fewer repetitions (about 1-6 reps), endurance training doesn't typically lead to significant increases in the number of sarcomeres and myofibrils in a skeletal muscle. Instead, endurance training promotes improvements in the muscle's metabolic capacity, such as increasing the muscle's ability to utilize oxygen and energy sources during prolonged activities.
The increase in connective tissue development and the strengthening of tendons that come with resistance training also contribute to the overall endurance of muscles, allowing them to perform repetitive movements over an extended period without injury.