AccelERate
Accelerometer Measured Early Recovery after Prolapse Surgery
Informational Video about the AccelERate Study
Welcome to the home of the PFDN's AccelERate study.
What is AccelERate?
AccelERate is the short name for the Accelerometer Measured Early Recovery after Prolapse Surgery study. It is one of several studies lead by the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). RTI International serves as the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) supporting the clinical sites conducting this small-scale study.
The goal of the AccelERate study is to learn how a prescribed exercise program affects physical recovery during the first year after pelvic organ prolapse surgery. This type of surgery helps fix a condition where organs like the bladder, uterus, or rectum drop out of their normal position and press against the vagina. This can happen when the muscles and tissue that support these organs become weak, often due to childbirth or aging. During surgery, doctors move the organs back into place and use stitches or special materials to keep them supported. The goal is to reduce post-operative symptoms like pressure or urine leakage and improve quality of life.
New research suggests that letting women return to their usual activities after surgery may help improve pelvic floor recovery. AccelERate aims to better understand how activity levels affect healing.