Brittany Samulski
3044 HEALTH SCIENCES BLDG
NORFOLK, 23529
Dr. Brittany Samulski serves as an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University. She received her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Spanish Language in 2008 from the University of Virginia, her clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 2011, and her Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation from Old Dominion University in 2020. Prior to completing her PhD, she worked clinically in the acute care and home health settings for Sentara Healthcare in the Hampton Roads area.
Dr. Samulski's current research interests are in two areas: motor control and falls management. Her motor control research has focused on coupled movements like chewing gum and walking in healthy adults, as well as on the effects of aging on motor control. Dr. Samulski is the director of the Monarch Balance for Life program which offers comprehensive falls risk assessment to the greater Hampton Roads area through various partnerships with insurance companies, the Virginia Beach Health Department, and Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation. She also serves as a member of American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) Institute for Scholarly Inquiry (ISI) Taskforce to Establish and Sustain a Culture of Research in Academic Physical Therapy, is a member of the Programming Committee for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Geriatrics Section, serves as a member of the APTA Virginia research committee, and is an abstract reviewer for the Education Leadership Conference (ELC) hosted by the ACAPT. Dr. Samulski was named an Emerging Leader by the APTA in 2020, was awarded the 40 Under 40 alumni recognition from Old Dominion University in 2023, and was awarded the John L. “Jack” Echternach Research Award by APTA Virginia in 2024.
Ph.D. in Kinesiology & Rehabilitation , Old Dominion University , (2020)
D.P.T. in Physical Therapy, Old Dominion University, (2011)
- Parkinson's Wellness Recovery (PWR!) Certification
- Sponsoring Organization: Parkinson's Wellness Recovery
- Date Obtained: 2017-06-01
- Preparing Future Faculty
- Sponsoring Organization: Old Dominion University
- Date Obtained: 2017-05-01
- Advanced Clinical Instructor Certification
- Sponsoring Organization: American Physical Therapy Association
- Date Obtained: 2015-10-01
- Clinical Instructor Certification
- Sponsoring Organization: American Physical Therapy Association
- Date Obtained: 2012-05-01
- CPR Certification
- Sponsoring Organization: American Heart Association
- Date Obtained: 2022-09-01
- Physical Therapy License
- Sponsoring Organization: Virginia State Board of Physical Therapy
- Date Obtained: 2011-06-01
Expertise
Research Interests
Motor Control, Chewing, Gait, Aging, Falls Assessment, Falls Management
Articles
- Riis, K., Samulski, B. S., Neely, K. and Laverdure, P. (2024). Physical Activity for anxiety for Autistic People: A Systematic Review . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders .
- Prebor, J., Samulski, B. S., Armitano-Lago, C. and Morrison, S. (2022). Patterns of Movement Performance and Consistency From Childhood to Old Age. Motor Control 27 (2) , pp. 258-274.
- Prebor, J., Samulski, B. S., Armitano-Lago, C. and Morrison, S. (2020). Chewing Entrains Cyclical Actions but Interferes With Discrete Actions in Children. Journal of Motor Behavior 53 (3) , pp. 364-372.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. Age-related changes in neuromotor function when performing a concurrent motor task.. Experimental Brain Research .
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (2019). Coupling of motor oscillators- What really happens when you chew gum and walk? . Neuroscience Letters 698 , pp. 90-96.
Presentations
- Prebor, J., Samulski, B. S. and Morrison, S. (October , 2019). Assessing the impact of chewing on motor function in children and adolescents. Poster Society for Neuroscience Annual Conference Chicago, IL.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J. and Morrison, S. (October , 2019). Stepping couples with chewing regardless of when it is initiated suggesting hierarchical influence of chewing on gait Poster Society for Neuroscience Annual Conference Chicago, IL.
- Prebor, J., Samulski, B. S. and Morrison, S. (June , 2019). The impact of chewing on neuromotor function in children. Poster NASPSPA Annual Conference Baltimore, MD.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J. and Morrison, S. (April , 2019). Chewing speed does not follow typical patterns of motor slowing with age. Poster ODU College of Health Sciences Research Day Norfolk, VA.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J. and Morrison, S. (March , 2019). Chewing speed does not follow typical patterns of motor slowing with age. Poster Graduate Research Achievement Day Norfolk, VA.
- Prebor, J., Samulski, B. S. and Morrison, S. (March , 2019). The impact of chewing on neuromotor function in children. Poster Graduate Research Achievement Day Norfolk, VA.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (January , 2019). Chewing gum while walking changes gait timing and may be innovative technique for rhythmic cuing. Poster American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting Washington, DC.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (November , 2018). Chewing differentially influences upper limb motor patterns. Poster Society for Neuroscience Annual Conference San Diego, CA.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (October , 2018). Chewing rates resistant to age-related slowing and may be novel rehabilitation technique for rhythmic cueing. Poster American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine Annual Conference Dallas, TX.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (July , 2018). Chewing speed appears resistant to age-related neuromotor decline. Poster Progress in Clinical Motor Control I: Neurorehabilitation Conference State College, PA.
- Samulski, B. S. (April , 2018). Can you walk and chew gum?: a look at coupled motor oscillators in healthy adults Oral Presentation ODU College of Health Sciences Research Day Norfolk, VA.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (March , 2018). Walking and chewing gum at the same time: couple movement reveals pattern of neurological aging. Poster Graduate Research Achievement Day Norfolk, VA.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (March , 2018). Walking and chewing gum at the same time: couple movement reveals pattern of neurological aging. Poster Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia Conference Williamsburg, VA.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (November , 2017). Can you walk and chew gum? The effect of chewing gum on gait parameters. Poster Society for Neuroscience Annual Conference Washington, DC.
- Samulski, B. S., Prebor, J., Armitano, C. and Morrison, S. (October , 2017). Can you walk and chew gum? The effect of chewing gum on gait dynamics in healthy adults. Poster Virginia Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference Newport News, VA.
- 2024: John L. "Jack" Echternach Research Award, American Physical Therapy Association Virginia
- 2023: 40 Under 40 Class of 2023, Old Dominion University Alumni Association
- 2020: Emerging Leader , American Physical Therapy Association - Virginia Chapter
- 2019: Leader of the Year Award Nominee, Old Dominion University Leadership and Student Involvement
- 2019: Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant - Classroom Instructor, Old Dominion University
- 2018: Progress in Motor Control Travel Award, Progress in Motor Control I: Neurorehabilitation Conference
- 2017: Virginia Physical Therapy Association First Place Research Poster- Professional Category, Virginia Physical Therapy Association
- 2017: Tidewater Physical Therapy Association Leadership Stipend, Tidewater Physical Therapy Association
- 2013: "Always Committed to Excellence" (ACE) Award, Sentara Healthcare