Editorial Policies

Commitment to Scientific Excellence and Ethical Publishing

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Therapy (JSMT) is dedicated to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research that advances the field of sports medicine, rehabilitation, performance enhancement, and injury prevention. Our editorial policies are designed to uphold the highest standards of scientific integrity, ethical publishing, and transparency in scholarly communication.

We adhere to the ethical guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Medical Association (WMA) to ensure credibility and fairness in the publication process.

Editorial and Peer Review Process

JSMT follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure unbiased and high-quality evaluation of submitted manuscripts. Our review process includes:

  • Initial Screening: Manuscripts are assessed for relevance, formatting, and ethical compliance.
  • Plagiarism Check: Submissions undergo screening using iThenticate to ensure originality.
  • Expert Evaluation: At least two independent reviewers specializing in sports medicine, rehabilitation, or related fields evaluate the manuscript.
  • Editorial Decision: Based on reviewer feedback, manuscripts are either accepted, recommended for revisions, or rejected.
  • Final Approval: Authors must address reviewer comments before final acceptance and publication.

Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

JSMT upholds strict ethical guidelines to prevent research misconduct and ensure transparency. Authors must adhere to the following principles:

  • Originality: All manuscripts must be original and not submitted elsewhere for review.
  • Authorship Criteria: All listed authors must have significantly contributed to the research.
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work must be disclosed.
  • Data Integrity: Authors must provide supporting data upon request to validate their research.
  • Plagiarism Prevention: All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism before peer review.

Open Access and Licensing Policy

JSMT is an open-access journal, ensuring unrestricted access to all published research. Articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), allowing for free distribution and adaptation with proper attribution.

Manuscript Submission and Editorial Process

Authors can submit their manuscripts via our online submission system. Key submission requirements include:

  • Manuscript Formatting: All submissions must follow JSMT’s author guidelines.
  • Review Timeline: The peer review process typically takes 4-6 weeks.
  • Publication Frequency: Articles are published on a rolling basis for timely dissemination of research.

Data Sharing and Reproducibility

JSMT encourages authors to share their data to promote research transparency. A data availability statement is required in all submissions.

Appeals, Retractions, and Corrections

Authors may appeal editorial decisions with supporting evidence. Post-publication corrections or retractions will follow COPE guidelines to uphold research integrity.

Contact Editorial Office

For inquiries regarding editorial policies, please contact the JSMT editorial office at [email protected].

Advancing sports medicine research through ethical and high-impact publishing!