Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Neuromuscular Performance in Women's Rugby
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 招募中
- 入组人数
- 48
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Change in International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-SF) total score
研究概览
简要总结
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.
详细描述
Urinary incontinence is common in women athletes and may affect training participation, confidence, concentration, and sporting performance. Rugby exposes athletes to repeated impacts, rapid decelerations, collisions, and high trunk and intra-abdominal pressure demands. Conventional pelvic floor muscle training may not fully reflect these sport-specific demands.
This study is a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Eligible participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated sequence prepared by an independent researcher. Allocation will be concealed using sealed, opaque envelopes.
Participants allocated to the intervention will complete a rugby-tailored pelvic floor muscle training programme delivered remotely by certified pelvic health physiotherapists and sport scientists. The programme includes education, breathing and posture coordination, pelvic floor contractions in different positions, pre-activation before high-impact tasks ("the Knack"), progressive functional strength and landing tasks, technique correction, and individualized progression. Participants will continue their usual rugby training. Control participants will continue usual rugby training and will not complete the study exercise programme during the intervention period. After post-intervention assessment, control participants will be offered the programme materials and a remote advisory session.
Assessments will combine self-reported pelvic floor outcomes with force-plate measures. The ICIQ-UI SF and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Screening Tool (PFD-SENTINEL) will be completed at baseline and post-intervention. Neuromuscular testing will include countermovement jumps, an isometric strength test, and a reactive jump assessment. Adherence will be monitored using participant records, physiotherapist logs, and remote-session attendance. The principal analysis will compare changes over time between groups using a mixed-effects model or equivalent repeated-measures approach, with sensitivity analyses adjusted for baseline outcome values and relevant participant and training characteristics.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- Triple (Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
盲法说明
The behavioural intervention cannot be masked to participants Randomization is generated by an independent researcher and allocation is concealed using sealed, opaque envelopes.
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 45 Years（Adult）
- 性别
- Female
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •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.
- •Able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
排除标准
- •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.
研究组 & 干预措施
Rugby-Tailored Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Programme
Participants will continue usual rugby training and complete the remotely supervised rugby-tailored pelvic floor muscle training programme. The intervention includes pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscle coordination, breathing and posture exercises, progressive contractions in different positions, the "Knack" before impact-related tasks, functional strength and landing exercises, individualized progression, and remote technique feedback.
干预措施: Rugby-Tailored Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Programme (Behavioral)
Control
Participants will continue their usual rugby training and will not complete the study pelvic floor muscle exercise programme during the intervention period. After post-intervention assessment, they will be offered access to the programme materials and one remote advisory session with a pelvic health physiotherapist.
结局指标
主要结局
Change in International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-SF) total score
时间窗: Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks)
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.
次要结局
- Change in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Screening Tool in Female Athletes (PFD-SENTINEL) symptom count(Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks))
- Change in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Screening Tool in Female Athletes (PFD-SENTINEL) risk, clinical and sport-related item count(Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks))
- Change in countermovement jump height(Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks))
- Change in maximal isometric squat peak force(Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks))
- Change in Reactive Strength Index during the countermovement rebound jump(Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks))
- Change in self-reported amount of urinary leakage during the countermovement jump test(Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks))
- Change in self-reported amount of urinary leakage during the isometric squat test(Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks))
- Change in self-reported amount of urinary leakage during the countermovement rebound jump test(Baseline and immediately after the intervention (8 weeks))
- Adherence to the pelvic floor muscle training programme(Adherence will be summarized as the percentage of prescribed home-training sessions completed, based on weekly participant self-reports.)
研究者
Javier Courel Ibáñez
Principal Investigator
Universidad de Granada