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CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE MAGAZINE
7 min read
Circuit Training and Strength Endurance
Olivia Davis
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Diets Premium Medical Expert • 22.03.2026
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Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian:
This article has been peer-reviewed for adherence to IŻŻ, WHO, and PTGiP clinical nutritional standards.
| CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE MAGAZINE CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE MAGAZINE | min read 7 min |
| Diets Premium Medical Expert Olivia Davis | Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian 22.03.2026 |
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Key Takeaways
Circuit training is one of the forms and methods of working on physical fitness. It can take the form of endurance-strength training, speed-strength training, or jump-strength training, but also include exercises for flexibility, coordination, and technique. The goals of the training are achieved through the appropriate selection of exercises and correct execution. In this article, the basics of circuit training for the development of strength endurance are presented.
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Requirements regarding loads in strength endurance
In various sports, where strength endurance plays a significant role, the relationship between strength and endurance is distinct. The performance of this characteristic will vary in different disciplines due to the aim of achieving specific, different effects. The requirements for loads in strength endurance training will also have a certain amount of common characteristics for all disciplines. However, special exercise sensations should be considered in the initial movements if the performance of the selected muscle groups is to be developed through strength and endurance training, and if they are to express the efficiency and effectiveness of the movement ability of strengths. By moving the specific load capacity and the load of all muscle groups that are specific to the exercise and the radiation of strength and endurance, the performance and strength of the training, which must be influenced in the same way as they influence the speed and strength of the training, must be achieved.
Does the application of the peripheral method in strength-endurance training indeed operate in this manner?
The fundamental strength-endurance training in the form of circuit training is almost always utilized at every stage and period of training. For young athletes, it serves as a tool to create the foundation of physical fitness. In the training of seasoned athletes, it represents a transitional phase to specific strength-endurance challenges in the respective sport. Circuit training is essentially an assortment of many diverse exercises, focused on shaping strength-speed endurance within the range of medium resistance values. To be successful, the parameters of this training should be reasonably selected.
The amount of exercises and their order in execution
Within the training program, 8-12 exercises with a variety of effects are selected, which are aimed at targeting the bending and straightening muscles of the limbs and torso. The order of executing exercises should allow for a shift in the focus of muscle and joint work. The chosen set of exercises forms a circuit, which is repeated multiple times during a single training session. After several weeks of training, exercises can be made more challenging by introducing changes in the conditions of execution and adding new exercises of greater intensity, in order to ensure both the comprehensiveness of circuit training and the next adaptive requirements for the body.
The magnitude of the resistance
The magnitude of the resistance should be such that it can be overcome between 50 and 75 times under the conditions of average motion frequency. This corresponds to a resistance between 30 and 50% of maximum force. In this range, a greater number of repetitions can be performed while maintaining a relatively high speed of movement and the force-velocity effect of effort. Combining exercises with resistance exceeding 60% SM (maximum force) should be done with smaller muscle groups or the muscles of the trunk, where performing a large number of repetitions is not possible.
Action velocity
To ensure strength-speed effects in endurance development, the athlete must take into account a certain speed of movement when performing all exercises and repetitions. Movement speeds lower than those specific ones present during competition will result in a phenomenon of less effective muscle response (slower and weaker contractions).
Movement frequency
The frequency of movements should match the parameters of the starting movement, particularly in cyclical movement disciplines. The choice of movement frequency in training will also consider the demands of energy-generating effort. The frequency of movements approaching the possible maximum will activate the anaerobic energy conversion processes, leading to an increase in the acidification of the internal body environment and maintaining a high level of muscle activity. This type of performance will benefit the athlete in specific starting, acceleration, and finishing situations. In endurance sports, the goal is often to improve the body's aerobic capabilities. The optimal frequency of movements for the development of this ability under conditions of medium duration of effort, around 45 seconds, is 40-70% of the possible maximum frequency.
Number of repetitions
The number of repetitions in an exercise is determined based on the selected resistance, frequency of movements, and type of training. The duration of the load typically ranges from 30 to 90 seconds, allowing for 20-40 repetitions to be performed in the exercise. A large number of repetitions until exhaustion often leads to significant inaccuracies in the execution of movements. Additionally, it results in a loss of power-speed character of the movement, the muscular system adjusts to slower reactions.
Recovery intervals
In cases where there are changing demands for individual muscle groups resulting from the form of circuit training, the breaks between exercises can be very short. The maximum time to transition and assume the starting position for the next training is 30 seconds, however, this time may be shortened or there may be no break at all in order to increase training intensity.
The all-encompassing range of training
The all-encompassing range of training is determined based on the degree of physical readiness of the athlete and his ability to carry out loads. For athletes in the youth category, the indicative size is 600-800 repetitions of movement. By applying 2-3 training units per week, a relatively rapid increase in the level of training can be achieved. After 5 to 10 strength training exercises with the method of circuit training, the competitor is not as tired and rests more quickly in the applied breaks. Most often, he himself tries to increase the frequency of interval movements and to shorten the rest periods. The nature of the changes in training should reflect the goals and tasks of the training process.
Olivia Davis
Diets Premium Medical Expert
Member of the Diets Premium clinical editorial board. Specializes in medical diet therapy, metabolic health, and nutritional planning.
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