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Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Neuromuscular Performance in Women's Rugby

NCT07757633 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 48

Last updated 2026-08-11

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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.

Conditions

  • Urinary Incontinence (UI)
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Rugby-Tailored Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Programme

The 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • World Rugby Research Unit

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • Universidad de Granada

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
45 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-09-30
Primary Completion
2026-12-31
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • Spain

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07757633 on ClinicalTrials.gov