Meryl Alappattu

Meryl Alappattu, DPT, PhD

Research Associate Professor

Department: HP-PHYSICAL THERAPY
Business Phone: (352) 273-9661
Business Email: meryl@phhp.ufl.edu

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2015-2025
PHT6024 Professional Issue 1
2019-2025
PHT6608 Evidence Base Pract 2
2018-2022,2024-2025
HSC4970 Public Health and Health Professions Senior Honors Thesis
2019-2024
PHT6609 Evidence Base Pract 3
2018
RSD6930 Special Topics in Rehabilitation Science
2016
PHT6503 Hlth Promo/Wellness 2
2015
OTH5435 Ther Skil I:Biomd Fct
2011
PHT6770C Musclskltl Disordr 1
2011
PHT6218C Therap Modalty Interv
2024-2025
RSD6910 Supervised Research

Research Profile

Areas of Interest
  • Chronic Pain
  • Pain
  • Pelvic pain
  • Rehabilitation
  • Women’s Health

Publications

Academic Articles
2024
Delayed Recovery After Exercise-Induced Pain in People with Chronic Widespread Muscle Pain Related to Cortical Connectivity.
Brain sciences. 14(11) [DOI] 10.3390/brainsci14111102. [PMID] 39595864.
2024
Implementation of a Cancer Rehabilitation Navigation Program: a qualitative analysis of implementation determinants and strategies.
Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice. 18(4):1325-1338 [DOI] 10.1007/s11764-023-01374-5. [PMID] 37099228.
2024
Presence of endometriosis and chronic overlapping pain conditions negatively impacts the pain experience in women with chronic pelvic-abdominal pain: A cross-sectional survey.
Women's health (London, England). 20 [DOI] 10.1177/17455057241248017. [PMID] 38682290.
2023
“The constant worry”: Urinary incontinence self-management in rural women: A qualitative study.
Research in nursing & health. 46(6):603-615 [DOI] 10.1002/nur.22341. [PMID] 37792276.
2023
Methodologies Used in Studies of Self-Management Interventions for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: An Integrative Review.
Western journal of nursing research. 45(12):1150-1164 [DOI] 10.1177/01939459231208418. [PMID] 37902161.
2023
Pain and Dysfunction Reported After Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Scoping Review.
Physical therapy. 103(7) [DOI] 10.1093/ptj/pzad045. [PMID] 37471638.
2021
Chronic Pelvic Pain and Sexual Dysfunction Among Females and Males Receiving Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.
Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland). 2 [DOI] 10.3389/fpain.2021.787559. [PMID] 35295502.
2021
Potential for elimination of folate and vitamin B12 deficiency in India using vitamin-fortified tea: a preliminary study.
BMJ nutrition, prevention & health. 4(1):293-306 [DOI] 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000209. [PMID] 34308138.
2021
Predictors of Mucosal and Muscle Pain in Vulvodynia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis From the National Vulvodynia Registry.
The journal of pain. 22(2):161-170 [DOI] 10.1016/j.jpain.2020.07.001. [PMID] 32679255.
2021
Sex moderates the effects of experimentally induced musculoskeletal pain on alcohol demand in healthy drinkers.
Drug and alcohol dependence. 219 [DOI] 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108475. [PMID] 33385694.
2020
Regional increases in brain signal variability are associated with pain intensity reductions following repeated eccentric exercise bouts.
European journal of pain (London, England). 24(4):818-827 [DOI] 10.1002/ejp.1532. [PMID] 31976587.
2020
Riding a Tiger: Maximizing Effects of Manual Therapies for Pelvic Pain.
Journal of women's health physical therapy. 44(1):32-38 [DOI] 10.1097/jwh.0000000000000156. [PMID] 34163308.
2020
Training endogenous pain modulation: a preliminary investigation of neural adaptation following repeated exposure to clinically-relevant pain.
Brain imaging and behavior. 14(3):881-896 [DOI] 10.1007/s11682-018-0033-8. [PMID] 30617786.
2019
An International Survey of Commonly Used Interventions for Management of Pelvic Pain.
Journal of women's health physical therapy. 43(2):82-88 [DOI] 10.1097/jwh.0000000000000131. [PMID] 32499673.
2019
The Efficacy of Manual Therapy for Treatment of Dyspareunia in Females: A Systematic Review.
Journal of women's health physical therapy. 43(1):28-35 [DOI] 10.1097/jwh.0000000000000117. [PMID] 34135723.
2018
Musculoskeletal Considerations in Female Patients with Chronic Pelvic Pain.
Seminars in reproductive medicine. 36(2):107-115 [DOI] 10.1055/s-0038-1676085. [PMID] 30566976.
2018
Patterns in Vulvodynia Treatments and 6-Month Outcomes for Women Enrolled in the National Vulvodynia Registry-An Exploratory Prospective Study.
The journal of sexual medicine. 15(5):705-715 [DOI] 10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.03.003. [PMID] 29631955.
2017
Oncology Section EDGE Task Force on Cancer: A systematic review of patient-reported measures for sexual dysfunction.
Rehabilitation oncology (American Physical Therapy Association. Oncology Section). 35(3):137-143 [PMID] 29082117.
2017
Oncology Section EDGE Task Force on Urogenital Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Measures for Incontinence.
Rehabilitation oncology (American Physical Therapy Association. Oncology Section). 35(3):130-136 [PMID] 29218255.
2017
Quality-of-Life Outcomes Following Surface Electromyography Biofeedback as an Adjunct to Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Urinary Incontinence: A Case Report.
Journal of women's health physical therapy. 41(2):73-82 [DOI] 10.1097/JWH.0000000000000065. [PMID] 29375282.
2017
The influence of clinical equipoise and patient preferences on outcomes of conservative manual interventions for spinal pain: an experimental study.
Journal of pain research. 10:965-972 [DOI] 10.2147/JPR.S130931. [PMID] 28490899.
2017
Vulvodynia is not created equally: empirical classification of women with vulvodynia.
Journal of pain research. 10:1601-1609 [DOI] 10.2147/JPR.S136751. [PMID] 28740427.
2017
Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going: A Content Analysis of Articles Published in the Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy From 2005 to 2015.
Journal of women's health physical therapy. 41(2):66-72 [DOI] 10.1097/JWH.0000000000000059. [PMID] 29375281.
2016
Analysis of Physical Therapy Intervention Outcomes for Urinary Incontinence in Women Older Than 65 Years in Outpatient Clinical Settings.
Topics in geriatric rehabilitation. 32(4):251-257 [DOI] 10.1097/TGR.0000000000000119. [PMID] 28484306.
2016
Oncology Section EDGE Task Force on Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review of Outcome Measures for Health-Related Quality of Life.
Rehabilitation oncology (American Physical Therapy Association. Oncology Section). 34(1):27-35 [PMID] 27134804.
2016
Urinary incontinence symptoms and impact on quality of life in patients seeking outpatient physical therapy services.
Physiotherapy theory and practice. 32(2):107-12 [DOI] 10.3109/09593985.2015.1116648. [PMID] 26863987.
2015
Clinical characteristics of patients with cancer referred for outpatient physical therapy.
Physical therapy. 95(4):526-38 [DOI] 10.2522/ptj.20140106. [PMID] 25504482.
2015
Painful intercourse is significantly associated with evoked pain perception and cognitive aspects of pain in women with pelvic pain.
Sexual medicine. 3(1):14-23 [DOI] 10.1002/sm2.52. [PMID] 25844171.
2015
Physical Therapy Intervention to Augment Outcomes Of Lymph Node Transfer Surgery for a Breast Cancer Survivor with Secondary Upper Extremity Lymphedema: A Case Report.
International journal of student scholarship in physical therapy. 1:30-44 [PMID] 27668296.
2015
Treatment Preference, Equipoise and Expectations: What You Expect Is What You Get
Journal of Pain. 16(4, 1)
2014
Fear of severe pain mediates sex differences in pain sensitivity responses to thermal stimuli.
Pain research and treatment. 2014 [DOI] 10.1155/2014/897953. [PMID] 24523963.
2014
Lack of Viscero-Somatic Convergence in Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women
Journal of Pain. 15(4, 1)
2013
Effect of a single session of muscle-biased therapy on pain sensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Journal of pain research. 6:7-22 [DOI] 10.2147/JPR.S37272. [PMID] 23403507.
2013
Pain and Psychological Outcomes After Rehabilitative Treatment for a Woman With Chronic Pelvic Pain With Stage III Cervical Cancer: A Case Report.
Journal of women's health physical therapy. 37(3):97-102 [PMID] 27134605.
2012
Forelimb Neuroplasticity Following Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Rat
Cell Transplantation. 21(4)
2011
Psychological factors in chronic pelvic pain in women: relevance and application of the fear-avoidance model of pain.
Physical therapy. 91(10):1542-50 [DOI] 10.2522/ptj.20100368. [PMID] 21835893.
2011
Stability of behavioral estimates of activity-dependent modulation of pain.
Journal of pain research. 4:151-7 [DOI] 10.2147/JPR.S18105. [PMID] 21811390.
2011
Total number and severity of comorbidities do not differ based on anatomical region of musculoskeletal pain.
The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy. 41(7):477-85 [DOI] 10.2519/jospt.2011.3686. [PMID] 21654099.
Presentations
2023-02-16
Implementation of a Cancer Rehabilitation Navigation Program Part 1: Qualitative Analysis of Program Implementation
National / Refereed. Speech. San Diego, CA
2023-02-16
Implementation of a Cancer Rehabilitation Navigation Program Part 2: Analysis of Health Service Utilization Data
National / Refereed. Speech. San Diego, CA
2023-03-11
The Constant Worry’ – A Mixed Methods Analysis of Urinary Incontinence Self-Management in Rural-Dwelling Women
Regional / Refereed. Poster.
2023-03-11
Self-Management of Urinary Incontinence: The Role of Geography and Generation
Regional / Refereed. Speech.
2022-07-12
Screening and Triage for Cancer-Related Functional Morbidity Using a Cancer Rehabilitation Navigation Program: Barriers and Facilitators of Program Development
International / Invited. Seminar.
2023-07-17
Underserved and undertreated: addressing the rehabilitative needs of individuals post gender affirming surgery
International / Invited. Seminar.
2024-06-12
Cancer associated weight loss, weakness and fatigue: the role of physical therapy
Regional / Invited. Seminar.
2024-07-15
No Pain, No Gain? Enhancing Pain Modulatory Capacity in Individuals with Widespread Muscle Pain through Exercise
International / Invited. Seminar.
2024-02-28
Underserved and undertreated: addressing gaps in care gender affirming surgery
National / Invited. Seminar.
2023-10-20
Musculoskeletal and sexual consequences of gender affirming surgery
International / Invited. Symposium. Denver, CO
2024-03-03
Underserved and undertreated: addressing gaps in care gender affirming surgery
National / Invited. Symposium. San Diego, CA

Grants

May 2023 ACTIVE
Mechanistic-Based Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY via NATL INST OF HLTH NIDDK
Apr 2023 – Nov 2024
IPA for Meryl Alappattu
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: US DEPT OF VET AFFAIRS LEXINGTON HEALTH
Sep 2022 ACTIVE
Phenotyping Responses to Optimize the Management of Pain Treatment in Endometriosis
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD
Jun 2021 – Jun 2024
Underserved and undertreated: musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction following gender affirmation surgery
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: ACADEMY OF ORTHOPAEDIC PHYSICAL THERAPY
May 2020 ACTIVE
Mechanisms and Modification of Pain Modulatory Capacity
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NIAMS
Jul 2017 – Jun 2023
Brain Imaging and Pain: Analysis of Placebo Analgesia
Role: Project Manager
Funding: NATL CTR FOR COMPLEM AND INTEGRATIVE HLT

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 273-9661
Emails:
Business:
meryl@phhp.ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100154
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
UF COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PROFE
GAINESVILLE FL 326100001