Dr Michail Arvanitidis PhD, MSc, MMACP, MCSP

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Contact details

Email: m.arvanitidis@bham.ac.uk

Dr Michail Arvanitidis is a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist (MACP) and researcher with expertise in neuromuscular control of human movement. His research uses high-density surface electromyography and dynamometry to explore adaptations associated with pain, injury, training, and microgravity exposure.

Qualifications

PhD in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK, 2024.
MSc in Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy, University of Birmingham, UK, 2019.
BSc in Physiotherapy, University of Thessaly, Greece, 2015.

Biography

Dr Michail Arvanitidis is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham. He completed his PhD at the University of Birmingham in 2024, where his research focused on the neuromuscular control of muscle force in individuals with chronic low back pain using high-density surface electromyography and isokinetic dynamometry. He also holds an MSc in Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy from the University of Birmingham and is a member of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP).

Dr Arvanitidis uses advanced electrophysiological and biomechanical methods to investigate the neuromuscular control of human movement in the context of pain, injury, exercise training, and microgravity exposure. His research aims to generate clinically relevant insights to support the optimisation of rehabilitation strategies for musculoskeletal conditions.

Currently, Dr Arvanitidis is working as the lead Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the international Cervical in Space trial, working with NASA and the European Space Agency to investigate cervical spine and neck muscle adaptations in astronauts following long-term missions to the International Space Station. This research aims to improve understanding of disc herniation risk after spaceflight and its wider relevance to spinal health.

Teaching

Contributor to Neuromuscular Adaptations to Training Module
Contributor to the Analysis of Motor Performance Module

Research

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy, low back pain, neck pain, muscle fatigue, neuromuscular adaptations to training, mechanisms underlying motor adaptations to pain, efficacy of physiotherapy interventions for musculoskeletal pain.

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michail-Arvanitidis

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fHHpMb0AAAAJ&hl=en

ORCID: 0000-0002-3339-6668

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Parrella, M, Arvanitidis, M, Borzuola, R, Jiménez-Grande, D, Macaluso, A & Falla, D 2026, 'Age-related alterations in trunk extensor force control during isometric and isokinetic contractions', Scientific Reports, vol. 16, 13249. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41572-6

Devecchi, V, Arvanitidis, M & Falla, D 2025, 'Effects of microgravity on neuromuscular control of the spine: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis', BMJ Open, vol. 15, no. 6, e098172. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-098172

Parrella, M, Borzuola, R, Siciliano, FP, Arvanitidis, M, Nuccio, S, Falla, D, Piacentini, MF & Macaluso, A 2025, 'Fatigue-induced alterations in the spatial distribution of lumbar erector spinae activity in older versus young adults', European Journal of Applied Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-025-05864-5

Contreras Hernandez, I, Falla, D, Arvanitidis, M, Negro , F, Jimenez-Grande, D & Martinez Valdes, E 2025, 'Load and muscle-dependent changes in triceps surae motor unit firing properties in individuals with non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy: Motor unit firing changes in non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy', The Journal of Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP287588

Arvanitidis, M, Falla, D, Negro, F, Boccia, G, Rainoldi, A & Martinez-Valdes, E 2025, 'Reduced knee extensor torque steadiness and increased motor unit discharge rate variability in young people with patellofemoral pain: a pilot study', European Journal of Applied Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-025-06083-8

Selvamoorthy, R, Arvanitidis, M, Negro , F, Pincheira, P, Evans, D & Martinez Valdes, E 2025, 'Torque visuomotor feedback training versus standard eccentric exercise for the management of patellar tendinopathy: protocol for a randomised controlled trial', BMJ Open, vol. 15, no. 2, e092104. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092104

Arvanitidis, M, Mak, HHK, Martinez-Valdes, E, Barbero, M & Falla, D 2025, 'Validation of a Novel device for Assessing Neck Muscle Strength', Archives of physiotherapy, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 148-157. https://doi.org/10.33393/aop.2025.3476

Contreras-Hernandez, I, Arvanitidis, M, Falla, D, Negro, F & Martinez-Valdes, E 2024, 'Achilles tendon morpho-mechanical parameters are related to triceps surae motor unit firing properties', Journal of Neurophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00391.2023

Arvanitidis, M, Jimenez-Grande, D, Haouidji-Javaux, N, Falla, D & Martinez Valdes, E 2024, 'Eccentric exercise‑induced delayed onset trunk muscle soreness alters high‑density surface EMG‑torque relationships and lumbar kinematics', Scientific Reports, vol. 14, 18589. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-69050-x

Deane, J, Arvanitidis, M, Briggs, M, Falla, D & Johnson, M 2024, 'Evaluating the efficacy of wearable biofeedback on the outcomes of exercise interventions in people with chronic non-specific spinal pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis', BMJ Open, vol. 14, no. 7, e085206. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085206

Arvanitidis, M, Jimenez-Grande, D, Haouidji-Javaux, N, Falla, D & Martinez Valdes, E 2023, 'Low-Back Pain-Induced Dynamic Trunk Muscle Control Impairments Are Associated with Altered Spatial EMG-Torque Relationships', Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003314

Review article

Thoomes, EJ, Arvanitidis, M, van Geest, S, van der Windt, DA, Verhagen, AP, de Graaf, M, Kuijper, B, Scholten-Peeters, GGM, Vleggeert-Lankamp, CL & Falla, D 2026, 'Diagnostic accuracy of physical examination tests for painful cervical radiculopathy: update of a systematic review and meta-analysis', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 27, no. 1, 338. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-026-09551-0

Sidiropoulos, G, Arvanitidis, M, Falla, D, Kanellopoulos, A, Tsekoura, M, Strimpakos, N & Dimitriadis, Z 2025, 'Association between neck muscle size and physical features in individuals with chronic non-specific neck pain: A systematic review', Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, vol. 80, 103428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103428

Parrella, M, Arvanitidis, M, Macaluso, A & Falla, D 2025, 'The effects of ageing on fatigue and endurance of the spinal extensor muscles: a systematic review and meta-analysis', GeroScience. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-025-01987-x

Arvanitidis, M, Falla, D, Sanderson, A & Martinez‐Valdes, E 2024, 'Does pain influence control of muscle force? A systematic review and meta‐analysis', European Journal of Pain. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.4716

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