Physical fitness of military policemen who practice CrossFit

INTRODUCTION: The practice of physical activity is directly related to the maintenance of health. Thus, the individual who is in the habit of practicing and who is well conditioned is able to perform various day-to-day functions with the least possible effort. In addition, good physical fitness is a requirement made for professionals of different categories, such as members of the security forces. Within this context, the military police officer must be within the standards of physical activity in order to exercise their ostensive functions. CrossFit is a training method that uses high intensity functional movements and aims to improve the physical form and health of the practitioner, thereby influencing its physical capacities. OBJECTIVES: To assess the physical fitness of military police officers who practice CrossFit. METHODS: The sample consisted of 16 male active military police officers, practitioners of the institutional physical exercises, divided between CrossFit practitioners for at least 5 months (n = 10) and non-practitioners of extra-institutional exercises (n = 6). The following parameters were evaluated: level of physical activity, body mass index, fat percentage, flexibility, upper limb strength, and cardiorespiratory capacity. RESULTS: The practice of CrossFit complementary to military physical training increased the values of upper limb strength, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory capacity among the components of physical fitness that were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The regular practice of CrossFit by military police suggests positive interference in some of the components of physical fitness and in the balance in strength gain, however more studies need to be conducted to investigate the significance of this effect.