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

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 Espirito 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.