Influence of the Menstrual Cycle on the Maximal Strength of the External and Internal Rotators of the Shoulder in High-level Sports Women.

Influence of the Menstrual Cycle on the Maximal Strength of the External and Internal Rotators of the Shoulder in High-level Sports Women From Montpellier Hérault Rugby.

The goal of this prospective interventional study is to measure the strength of the external and internal rotator muscles of both shoulders (dominant and non-dominant) of Montpellier Hérault Rugby players at different stages of their menstrual cycle. During the menstrual phase (beginning of the follicular phase from D0 to D5) and during the ovulatory/early luteal phase (approximately D13 to D18 of the menstrual cycle). The study is conducted on volunteers.

The main question it aims to answer is : Is there an effect of the menstrual cycle on the maximum strength of the internal and external rotators of the shoulder in female athletes who play rugby?

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Shoulder Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Measure the strength of the external and internal rotator muscles of both shoulders.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Montpellier, France, 34430
    • Clinique St Jean Sud de France

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria :

• Montpellier Hérault Rugby player
• Regular menstrual cycle
• Adult who has received informed consent information about the study and signed the non-objection form

Exclusion Criteria :

• Use or intake of contraception
• Presence of a condition associated with the menstrual cycle
• Recent injury or pain in the upper limbs lasting more than two weeks, incompatible with performing a test of maximum voluntary contraction of the shoulder rotators
• Presence of an infectious disease (fever) that could skew temperature readings during menstrual cycle monitoring.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: follicular phase; Measures during the follicular phase from D0 to D5	Other: Measure the strength of the external and internal rotator muscles of both shoulders.; Measure the strength of the external and internal rotator muscles of both shoulders using a Cybex-type isokinetic dynamometer.
Active Comparator: early luteal phase; Measures during the ovulatory/early luteal phase (approximately days 13 to 18 of the menstrual cycle)	Other: Measure the strength of the external and internal rotator muscles of both shoulders.; Measure the strength of the external and internal rotator muscles of both shoulders using a Cybex-type isokinetic dynamometer.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Intra-individual correlation of isokinetic torque peaks	The intra-individual correlation of isokinetic torque peaks (in Nm) measured at two distinct phases of the menstrual cycle (D0-D5 and D13-D18), for each type of internal and external rotator contraction, and for each arm.	baseline and 15 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Clinique Saint Jean, France

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 20, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 20, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 1, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 19, 2026
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Shoulder Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025-A01018-41

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No