Pelvic Floor Disorders Network Clinical Site

Project Abstract This application to be a Pelvic Floor Disorders Network Clinical Site contains both an innovative randomized controlled trial and comprehensive description of Northwestern Medicine’s unique strengths, as a team and environment, to contribute to all PFDN trials. Our concept proposal draws on the collective experience of our team in exercise physiology, perioperative optimization, and postoperative recovery. The proposal describes a randomized controlled trial of prescriptive early exercise following prolapse surgery to reduce deconditioning and improve recovery without any negative impact on pelvic floor outcomes. Our proposed study will go beyond existent research and be the first to implement and quantitatively evaluate (using accelerometer data) a postoperative exercise regimen and its effects on recovery and pelvic floor symptoms. In addition, our proposal highlights the strengths of our large, high volume, multi- disciplinary team, which draws from a diverse patient population across several regional hospitals to ensure equity and inclusion within PFDN clinical trials. We can also leverage our resources and collaborations as part of two NIDDK cooperative networks related to urinary incontinence and bladder health to advance the PFDN’s goals. The NM team is a nationally recognized group of collaborative, productive, and established investigators well poised to lead the design, implementation, analysis and dissemination of this multicenter RCT as well as participate in and lead additional studies within the PFDN.