Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Neuromuscular Performance in Women's Rugby
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18-45
SponsorUniversidad de Granada
About this trial
This randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether a rugby-tailored pelvic floor muscle training programme reduces urinary incontinence symptoms and influences neuromuscular performance in professional and semi-professional women rugby players. A total of 48 players aged 18 to 45 years with self-reported urinary incontinence will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the pelvic floor muscle training group or a control group.
The intervention group will complete an individualized, remotely supervised programme integrating pelvic floor muscle contractions, breathing and postural coordination, the "Knack" technique, progressive functional exercises, and rugby-relevant movement tasks. The control group will continue usual rugby training without study pelvic floor muscle training during the intervention period.
Outcomes will be measured at baseline and immediately after the intervention. The primary outcome is change in urinary incontinence severity measured with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF). Secondary outcomes include broader pelvic floor symptom screening, jump performance, maximal isometric lower-limb force, reactive strength, and programme adherence.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Female rugby player aged 18 to 45 years.
Competing at professional or semi-professional level.
Currently participating in an active rugby training and competition schedule.
Self-reported urinary leakage during the previous four weeks, an ICIQ-UI SF total score ≥3, and reported leakage during physical activity/exercise, coughing or sneezing on the self-diagnostic item.
Disqualifiers
Pregnant at the time of enrolment.
Childbirth within the previous 12 months.
Previous pelvic surgery.
Significant musculoskeletal injury during the previous 6 months, defined as any injury that prevented full participation in rugby training or competition for ≥7 consecutive days, or that could compromise the safe completion of study assessments.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Rugby-Tailored Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Programme
BehavioralThe intervention is an individualized, remotely delivered pelvic floor training programme designed for women rugby players. It combines: (1) pelvic floor muscle awareness, activation, and complete relaxation; (2) coordination with the transversus abdominis, breathing, and posture; (3) progressive pelvic floor contractions in lying, quadruped, standing, and dynamic positions; (4) the "Knack," involving pelvic floor pre-activation before impact or high-pressure tasks; (5) progressive rugby-relevant functional tasks such as squatting, jumping, landing, and repeated impact preparation; and (6) individualized feedback from certified pelvic health physiotherapists. Dose: 8 weeks, with 3 sessions per week. Adherence is monitored using participant self-reports, physiotherapist records, and remote-session attendance.
Treatment groups
48 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Rugby-Tailored Pelvic Floor Muscle Training ProgrammeExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: ControlNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-SF) total score
Urinary incontinence symptom severity will be assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-SF). The questionnaire contains three scored items assessing urinary-leakage frequency, amount of leakage and interference with everyday life. The total score ranges from 0 to 21 points, with higher scores indicating greater urinary incontinence severity and impact and therefore a worse outcome. Change will be calculated as the score at 8 weeks minus the baseline score; a negative change indicates improvement. The primary endpoint will be the between-group difference in change from baseline to 8 weeks.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks)Secondary outcomes
1
Change in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Screening Tool in Female Athletes (PFD-SENTINEL) symptom count
Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms will be assessed using the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Screening Tool in Female Athletes, known as PFD-SENTINEL. The instrument includes five binary pelvic floor symptom indicators. A study-defined symptom count will be calculated by summing the number of symptoms reported, producing a score from 0 to 5. Higher scores indicate a greater number of pelvic floor dysfunction symptom categories and therefore a worse outcome. A count of at least one symptom meets the PFD-SENTINEL criterion for direct referral to a pelvic floor specialist. Change will be calculated as the score at 8 weeks minus the baseline score; a negative change indicates improvement.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks)2
Change in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Screening Tool in Female Athletes (PFD-SENTINEL) risk, clinical and sport-related item count
Risk factors and clinical and sport-related characteristics will be assessed using the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Screening Tool in Female Athletes, known as PFD-SENTINEL. The instrument contains 28 binary risk, clinical and sport-related items. A study-defined item count will be calculated by summing the number of items reported, producing a score from 0 to 28. Higher scores indicate a greater number of characteristics associated with potential pelvic floor dysfunction and therefore a worse outcome. A count of 14 or more items meets the PFD-SENTINEL criterion for direct referral to a pelvic floor specialist. Change will be calculated as the score at 8 weeks minus the baseline score; a negative change indicates improvement.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks)3
Change in countermovement jump height
Countermovement jump height will be assessed using a force plate. Participants will perform three maximal countermovement jumps with their hands maintained on their hips. Jump height will be recorded in centimetres. Higher values indicate greater vertical jump performance and therefore a better outcome. The highest value obtained from the three valid trials will be used for analysis.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks)4
Change in maximal isometric squat peak force
Lower-body maximal isometric strength will be assessed using a force plate during three maximal isometric squat trials performed at a knee angle of approximately 110 degrees. Peak force will be recorded in newtons. Higher values indicate greater maximal isometric strength and therefore a better outcome. The highest peak-force value obtained from the three valid trials will be used for analysis.
Time frame
Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks)Sponsors and contacts
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Universidad de Granada
Lead sponsor
World Rugby Research Unit
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov