Melina Meyer Magulas

Norwegian version of this page Department of Sports Medicine

PhD Research Fellow

Email: melinamm@nih.no
Phone: +4723262118

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Projects

No ongoing projects

Areas of responsibility

PhD Candidate

Research

Sedentary behavior and physical activity
- Cardio-metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors
- Cognitive Performance
Muscle-tendon unit system biomechanical properties
- Effects of long-term stretching training on the morphology and biomechanical properties of the muscle-tendon system

Short biography

Melina Meyer Magulas works as a PhD candidate in physical activity and health at The Department of Sport Medicine. Her research is part of Generation Sedentary and Melina investigates the effects of breaking sedentary time with physical activity and whether the pattern and intensity used to interrupt sedentary behavior can modify risk factors for cardio-metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Magulas completed her master's degree in Sports Physiology and Biomechanics at NIH in 2014 at the Section for Physical Performance, with a focus on the long-term effects of stretching training on the morphology and functions of the muscle-tendon unit system.

She was responsible for the Physiology and Anatomy II (FYB1200) course in the Bachelor's program in Physiotherapy at the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology for the academic year 2022/23. She is also a lecturer at the Academy for Personal Training (AFPT) and was responsible for the course and lectures on nutrition for dancers at Bårdar Academy for several years. She has previously served as the coordinator for the physiological testing laboratory at Magnat Center in Oslo and has worked as an instructor, personal trainer, and strength and conditioning coach in sports for over 15 years, in addition to her work as a speaker in health and sports-related topics in the public and private sectors.

ResearchGate

Moltubakk, Marie M.; Villars, Fabienne Olivia; Magulas, Melina Meyer; Magnusson, Stig P.; Seynnes, Olivier R. & Bojsen-Møller, Jens (2021). Altered Triceps Surae Muscle-Tendon Unit Properties after 6 Months of Static Stretching. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 53(9), p. 1975–1986. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002671. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Introduction: This study examined the effects of 24 wk of daily static stretching of the plantarflexors (unilateral 4 × 60-s stretching, whereas the contralateral leg served as a control; n = 26) on joint range of motion (ROM), muscle–tendon unit morphological and mechanical properties, neural activation, and contractile function. Methods: Torque–angle/velocity was obtained in passive and active conditions using isokinetic dynamometry, whereas muscle–tendon morphology and mechanical properties were examined using ultrasonography. Results: After the intervention, ROM increased (stretching, +11° ± 7°; control, 4° ± 8°), and passive torque (stretching, −10 ± 11 N·m; control, −7 ± 10 N·m) and normalized EMG amplitude (stretching, −3% ± 6%; control, −3% ± 4%) at a standardized dorsiflexion angle decreased. Increases were seen in passive tendon elongation at a standardized force (stretching, +1.3 ± 1.6 mm; control, +1.4 ± 2.1 mm) and in maximal passive muscle and tendon elongation. Angle of peak torque shifted toward dorsiflexion. No changes were seen in tendon stiffness, resting tendon length, or gastrocnemius medialis fascicle length. Conformable changes in ROM, passive dorsiflexion variables, tendon elongation, and angle of peak torque were observed in the nonstretched leg. Conclusions: The present findings indicate that habitual stretching increases ROM and decreases passive torque, altering muscle–tendon behavior with the potential to modify contractile function.
Moltubakk, Marie M.; Magulas, Melina Meyer; Villars, Fabienne Olivia; Seynnes, Olivier R. & Bojsen-Møller, Jens (2018). Specialized properties of the triceps surae muscle-tendon unit in professional ballet dancers. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 28(9), p. 2023–2034. doi: 10.1111/sms.13207. Show summary
This study compared professional ballet dancers (n = 10) to nonstretching controls (n = 10) with the purpose of comparing muscle and tendon morphology, mechanical, neural, and functional properties of the triceps surae and their role for ankle joint flexibility. Torque‐angle and torque‐velocity data were obtained during passive and active conditions by use of isokinetic dynamometry, while tissue morphology and mechanical properties were evaluated by ultrasonography. Dancers displayed longer gastrocnemius medialis fascicles (55 ± 5 vs 47 ± 6 mm) and a longer (207 ± 33 vs 167 ± 10 mm) and more compliant (230 ± 87 vs 364 ± 106 N/mm) Achilles tendon compared to controls. Greater passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (40 ± 7 vs 17 ± 9°) was seen in dancers, resulting from greater fascicle strain and greater elongation of the muscle. Peak electromyographic (EMG) activity recorded during passive stretching was lower in dancers, and at common joint angles, dancers displayed lower EMG amplitude and lower passive joint stiffness. No differences between groups were seen in maximal isometric plantar flexor torque, isokinetic peak torque, angle of peak torque, or work. In conclusion, the greater ankle joint flexibility of professional dancers seems attributed to multiple differences in morphological and mechanical properties of muscle and tendinous tissues, and to factors related to neural activation.

View all works in Cristin

Solstad, Tom Erik Jorung; Dalen-Lorentsen, Torstein; Magulas, Melina Meyer; Wik, Eirik Halvorsen; Hamarsland, Håvard & Bovim, Lars Peder Vatshelle [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2020). Idrettsforskning Webinar.