With more than 20 years of clinical experience in physical therapy, Allyson brings a complete, balanced and compassionate perspective to practice. Leveraging her specialty certifications, she opened her own niche practice in 2008, Avila Physical Therapy for Women’s Heath.She specializes both in pelvic and abdominal health issues of women and men including bladder/bowel incontinence, pelvic pain, prenatal and postpartum care, sexual health and wellness,and rehab after breast cancer, including lymphedema management, and post-mastectomy products.
She started her career at Pitt County Memorial Hospital (now Vidant Medical Center), and spent eight years providing services in both Traumatic Brain Injury rehabilitation, and in the Oncology and Women's acute care units. She was instrumental in developing the hospital's first lymphedema treatment program.
Throughout her career, Allyson has worked as a clinical lecturer/instructor at ECU's Doctorate of Physical Therapy program, and continues to provide guest lectures in Women's Health special topics several times a year. She is an APTA certified clinical instructor for DPT candidates; and offers clinical internships for graduate students who want to specialize in Women’s Health.She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Section on Women's Health, and Private Practice special interest groups, International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH), and is currently pursuing her Fellowship (IF) with this organization. She is a Certified Mastectomy Fitter trained through American Breast Care (2008) and certified through the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics, Inc. (2010). Allyson received her Master’s in Physical Therapy in 1998 from Hahnemann University (now Drexel University).She went on to receive training as a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through the Academy of Lymphatic Studies in 2003, and completed all levels of coursework on Pelvic Health through the APTA, Section on Women's Health.
She is a passionate community speaker on topics including Breast Cancer, Sexual Health, Menopause, Osteoporosis, and Pelvic Health.
She lives in Winterville, NC with her husband and son. She is a board member of Women for Women of Pitt County, and fosters for the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina.She enjoys her two pugs, Pilates, Yoga, gardening, and reading lots of books.