What’s the Definition of Cardiovascular Endurance?
Cardiovascular endurance is the ability of the heart, lungs and blood vessels to deliver oxygen to working muscles and tissues, as well as the ability of those muscles and tissues to utilize that oxygen. Cardiovascular endurance is also frequently called cardio-respiratory endurance, cardiovascular fitness, aerobic capacity, aerobic fitness or is sometimes more broadly termed “endurance” — although endurance may also refer to the ability of the muscle to do repeated work without fatigue. It is also one of the five components of physical fitness. While all physical activities involve some level of cardiovascular support, cardiovascular endurance typically refers to the ability of a person to perform activities that raise the heart to a training level and maintain that level for a sustained period of time, typically 10-15 minutes. A “training level” is typically expressed as percentage of a person’s maximum heart rate (RMR), usually between 60-80 percent of an individual’s RMR.
