Manual Therapy 19 (2014) 1
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Manual Therapy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/math
Editorial
Editors reflections on 2013 and plans for new initiatives in 2014 Best wishes to all for 2014 and welcome to volume 19 (1) of the Manual Therapy Journal. The end of a year is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate successes and plan ahead, for the future year. Reflecting on 2013 in terms of the Manual Therapy Journal, one of the most pleasing statistics is that we have published manuscripts from authors who come from 30 different countries and who represent all world continents (with the exception of Antarctica!) namely, Europe, Africa, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Oceania. This is all the more pleasing when we review the same statistic five and 10 years ago. In the six editions of Manual Therapy in 2008, manuscripts were received from authors representing 17 countries, and in the four issues in 2003, authors represented 14 countries. Thus in 10 years, there has been more than a doubling of countries represented in Manual Therapy. Reviewing these statistics of country of authorship suggests a very exciting increase in musculoskeletal and manual therapy research and clinical engagement around the world. It is also interesting to review manuscripts’ authorship, to realise the author collaborations that are apparent within and between countries; signs of strength and mentoring in research. We would like to thank all our reviewers for the time and energy, expertise and enthusiasm that they put into providing high quality reviews of the manuscripts submitted to Manual Therapy, thereby maintaining the high quality of our Journal outputs. Manual Therapy in 2013 rejected 68% of the manuscripts that were submitted. This is certainly disappointing for many authors, but it is an indicator of the scientific standards required for publication and ever growing quality of the material published in the Manual Therapy Journal. We trust that the high quality feedback that is largely received from our reviewers gives less experienced researchers, food for thought and hopefully guides them fruitfully along their journey to publication in a rigorous manner. Reviewing manuscripts is a time consuming, voluntary and very responsible activity. The burgeoning numbers of journals that are entering the market around the world has placed great stress and unrealistic demands on many reviewers. It is vital that reviewers find time in their busy schedules to remain enthusiastic and provide high quality reviews. Thus as an initiative for 2014, the Manual Therapy Editorial Board determined that the practice of initial editorial review of all submitted manuscripts would be increased substantially to reject early, manuscripts that are not publishable on the
1356-689X/$ e see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2013.12.001
grounds for example, of scientific quality or scope. Each manuscript on submission will be considered by both an editor and associate editor. It is hoped that this step will rationalise the workload of Manual Therapy reviewers and also return such manuscripts to authors more expediently for their attention or submission to a journal more suited to the topic. As Editors we are particularly grateful for the work of our Associate Editors, Editorial Board Members and Advisory Board Members, who all contribute to the standards of the Manual Therapy Journal. Plans for 2014 are to continue a focus on publishing original research manuscripts and technical and measurement reports but also retain Manual Therapy’s diversity and clinical focus in publishing innovative Masterclasses, professional issues and case studies. Of note for researchers wishing to publish their randomised clinical trials, that January 1st 2014 is the date after which prospective clinical trial registration becomes mandatory for publication of the work in Manual Therapy (Costa et al., 2013). Our future plans are to also include the publication of a special issue to focus on a topical area each year. The Special issue for 2014 is currently being planned and we hope this will be a successful addition to the Journal. The Editors are always more than pleased to have input from the readership if they have particular topics of special interest for either Masterclasses or Special Issues which they would like to see discussed in Manual Therapy. We wish you all a very happy New Year and hope you will continue to enjoy and gain benefit from the articles contained in the Manual Therapy Journal.
Reference Costa L, Lin C, Bevilaqua Grossi D, Mancini M, Swisher A, Cook C, et al. Editorial: Clinical trial registration in physiotherapy journals: Recommendations from the International Society of Physiotherapy Journal Editors. Manual Ther 2013;18(1):1e3.
Ann Moore, Professor*, Gwendolen Jull, Emeritus Professor University of Brighton, Clinical Research Centre for Health Professions, Brighton, UK * Corresponding
author. E-mail address: [email protected] (A. Moore).
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Manual Therapy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/math
Editorial
Editors reflections on 2013 and plans for new initiatives in 2014 Best wishes to all for 2014 and welcome to volume 19 (1) of the Manual Therapy Journal. The end of a year is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate successes and plan ahead, for the future year. Reflecting on 2013 in terms of the Manual Therapy Journal, one of the most pleasing statistics is that we have published manuscripts from authors who come from 30 different countries and who represent all world continents (with the exception of Antarctica!) namely, Europe, Africa, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Oceania. This is all the more pleasing when we review the same statistic five and 10 years ago. In the six editions of Manual Therapy in 2008, manuscripts were received from authors representing 17 countries, and in the four issues in 2003, authors represented 14 countries. Thus in 10 years, there has been more than a doubling of countries represented in Manual Therapy. Reviewing these statistics of country of authorship suggests a very exciting increase in musculoskeletal and manual therapy research and clinical engagement around the world. It is also interesting to review manuscripts’ authorship, to realise the author collaborations that are apparent within and between countries; signs of strength and mentoring in research. We would like to thank all our reviewers for the time and energy, expertise and enthusiasm that they put into providing high quality reviews of the manuscripts submitted to Manual Therapy, thereby maintaining the high quality of our Journal outputs. Manual Therapy in 2013 rejected 68% of the manuscripts that were submitted. This is certainly disappointing for many authors, but it is an indicator of the scientific standards required for publication and ever growing quality of the material published in the Manual Therapy Journal. We trust that the high quality feedback that is largely received from our reviewers gives less experienced researchers, food for thought and hopefully guides them fruitfully along their journey to publication in a rigorous manner. Reviewing manuscripts is a time consuming, voluntary and very responsible activity. The burgeoning numbers of journals that are entering the market around the world has placed great stress and unrealistic demands on many reviewers. It is vital that reviewers find time in their busy schedules to remain enthusiastic and provide high quality reviews. Thus as an initiative for 2014, the Manual Therapy Editorial Board determined that the practice of initial editorial review of all submitted manuscripts would be increased substantially to reject early, manuscripts that are not publishable on the
1356-689X/$ e see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2013.12.001
grounds for example, of scientific quality or scope. Each manuscript on submission will be considered by both an editor and associate editor. It is hoped that this step will rationalise the workload of Manual Therapy reviewers and also return such manuscripts to authors more expediently for their attention or submission to a journal more suited to the topic. As Editors we are particularly grateful for the work of our Associate Editors, Editorial Board Members and Advisory Board Members, who all contribute to the standards of the Manual Therapy Journal. Plans for 2014 are to continue a focus on publishing original research manuscripts and technical and measurement reports but also retain Manual Therapy’s diversity and clinical focus in publishing innovative Masterclasses, professional issues and case studies. Of note for researchers wishing to publish their randomised clinical trials, that January 1st 2014 is the date after which prospective clinical trial registration becomes mandatory for publication of the work in Manual Therapy (Costa et al., 2013). Our future plans are to also include the publication of a special issue to focus on a topical area each year. The Special issue for 2014 is currently being planned and we hope this will be a successful addition to the Journal. The Editors are always more than pleased to have input from the readership if they have particular topics of special interest for either Masterclasses or Special Issues which they would like to see discussed in Manual Therapy. We wish you all a very happy New Year and hope you will continue to enjoy and gain benefit from the articles contained in the Manual Therapy Journal.
Reference Costa L, Lin C, Bevilaqua Grossi D, Mancini M, Swisher A, Cook C, et al. Editorial: Clinical trial registration in physiotherapy journals: Recommendations from the International Society of Physiotherapy Journal Editors. Manual Ther 2013;18(1):1e3.
Ann Moore, Professor*, Gwendolen Jull, Emeritus Professor University of Brighton, Clinical Research Centre for Health Professions, Brighton, UK * Corresponding
author. E-mail address: [email protected] (A. Moore).
