Episode 27: Evolving Pelvic Physical Therapy Practice with Meryl Alapattu, DPT, Ph.D.

In this episode, Dr. Meryl Alapattu, DPT, Ph.D. shares with us her experience in assessing psychosocial factors and developing “soft skills” as a researcher and faculty member at the University of Florida. 

“I think we were a little bit late to the game in pelvic health, thinking about psychological factors” including fear avoidance. “A lot of these persistent pain conditions have similar factors that contribute to the pain experience…. [When] we look at people with pelvic pain compared to people with knee pain, for example, the types of things that they're fearful of, or the activities that they may avoid related to their pain might be a little bit different” but the underlying processes are the same. 

As clinicians, it’s our responsibility to learn about and integrate this information into our practice. “Professional development is a career-long thing that all of us are continuing to work on in some way or another.” That includes developing our soft skills to form a therapeutic alliance, communicate with our employers and colleagues, and practice ethically. Meryl also shares what the University of Florida DPT program does to help PT students develop their soft skills. 

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Meryl Alappattu, PT, DPT, Ph.D. graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Florida (UF) in 2008. After graduation, she completed a year-long clinical residency at the University of Florida Health in Cancer Rehab and has continued her clinical work specializing in rehabilitation for patients with cancer and pelvic health issues. Dr. Alappattu completed her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science at the UF in 2014, studying mechanisms of pelvic pain in women, and is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the UF Dept. of Physical Therapy. 

Dr. Alappattu has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and Florida Physical Therapy Association since 2006. She has served in multiple roles in FPTA, including two terms as Vice President, and currently serves as Speaker of the Florida Assembly of Representatives. She has been a Delegate to the APTA House Delegates since 2014. She also serves on the board of directors for the International Pelvic Pain Society.

Highlights from our conversation in Episode 27

• (0:34) Meryl’s introduction 
• (6:09) How she came to research psychosocial factors related to persistent pelvic pain 
• (10:50) Persistent pain education isn’t mainstream yet in PT 
• (14:10) How much of the psychological aspect of patient care is within a PT’s scope of practice?
• (20:12) The importance of “soft skills” as students and clinicians 
• (28:10) Fostering self-reflection in PT graduate programs 
• (31:15) Lightning Round 

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Resources from Episode 27

• Psychological Factors in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain: Relevance and Application of the Fear Avoidance Model (Alappatu 2011)
• (19:38) Empathy During Patient-Provider Interactions in Women with Chronic pelvic Pain (2021)
• (28:22) Professional Behaviors Self Assessment Tool Marquette University
• (32:21) White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

Let’s Connect!

• Follow Meryl on Twitter and Instagram @pundispice
• Email Meryl meryl@phhp.ufl.edu
• Find us on Facebook
• Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician
• Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika