Work

Correlation between physical fitness, psychophysiological parameters and performance in a firearm proficiency test in military police officers

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction Military police officers must combine physical conditioning, emotional control, and technical skills to act effectively in high-stress scenarios. However, evidence on the relationship between physical and psychophysiological indicators and performance in firearm proficiency remains scarce. Methods This study investigated correlations between physical fitness, handgrip strength, mood state, and shooting performance among 26 military police officers of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Physical fitness was assessed by institutional protocols, handgrip strength was measured in standard and shooting positions, and firearm accuracy was evaluated under operational conditions. Results Our data showed that overall physical fitness indicators did not correlate ( p > 0.05) with shooting proficiency. In contrast, dominant handgrip strength ( p < 0.05) and body mass-related parameters were positively associated with shooting accuracy and performance. Mood vigor was also linked to higher scores. Discussion These findings suggest that targeted grip strength development and psychophysiological monitoring may represent practical strategies to optimize firearm proficiency training.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1736902