There are two main fitness goals that most gym-goers strive for: building muscle and gaining muscular strength. While these goals often go hand in hand, there is a distinction between the two. Muscular strength refers to the maximum amount of force a muscle or muscle group can generate, regardless of the time it takes. It depends on the size of muscle fibers and the brain's ability to activate them. Muscular endurance, on the other hand, is the ability of muscles to perform contractions for an extended period of time, while muscular power is the ability to exert a large amount of force quickly.

These different aspects of muscle performance can be trained and utilized in various ways. Muscular strength provides benefits such as joint stability, reduced risk of injury, improved posture, and enhanced quality of life. To build muscular strength, it is important to engage in resistance training, particularly compound exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Some effective exercises include barbell back squats, deadlifts, pushups, inverted rows, lunges, and bench presses.