The Journal of Sports Medicine and Therapy (JSMT) follows a rigorous peer review process to ensure the publication of high-quality, evidence-based research in sports medicine, rehabilitation, exercise physiology, biomechanics, and athletic performance. The journal is committed to maintaining scientific accuracy, integrity, and transparency in the evaluation of submitted manuscripts.

Peer Review Process

1. Initial Manuscript Screening

Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes an initial review by the editorial team to ensure it meets the scope and quality standards of the journal. The evaluation includes:

• Relevance to sports medicine, therapy, rehabilitation, or exercise science.
• Compliance with ethical guidelines, including research involving human subjects.
• Adherence to journal formatting and reporting standards.
• Scientific soundness and originality of the study.

Manuscripts that do not meet these fundamental requirements may be rejected at this stage without external peer review.

2. Selection of Reviewers

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to expert reviewers specializing in sports medicine, physical therapy, exercise physiology, or related disciplines. Reviewers are selected based on their research expertise, clinical experience, and prior contributions to the field.

3. Double-Blind Peer Review

The JSMT follows a double-blind review process, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to maintain fairness, objectivity, and minimize bias.

4. Reviewer Assessment

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on the following key criteria:

• Scientific Rigor: The research must follow a robust methodology, with appropriate study design, controls, and statistical analysis.
• Clinical Relevance: The study should contribute to advancements in sports medicine, therapy, injury prevention, or rehabilitation.
• Originality and Innovation: The research should present novel findings, new treatment protocols, or emerging therapeutic techniques.
• Clarity and Structure: The manuscript should be well-organized, clearly written, and logically structured.
• Ethical Compliance: The research must adhere to ethical standards, including informed consent, IRB approval, and adherence to human and animal research ethics.

5. Editorial Decision

Based on the reviewers’ feedback, the editorial team makes one of the following decisions:

• Accept: The manuscript is approved for publication without further modifications.
• Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor changes before final acceptance.
• Major Revisions: The manuscript requires significant modifications and may undergo a second round of peer review.
• Reject: The manuscript does not meet the journal’s quality or relevance criteria.

6. Revision and Resubmission

For manuscripts requiring revisions, authors must submit a revised version with a detailed point-by-point response addressing the reviewers’ comments. The revised manuscript may be reassessed by the original reviewers before final acceptance.

7. Final Acceptance and Publication

Once the manuscript meets all necessary revisions and quality standards, it is accepted for publication. The final version undergoes editing, formatting, and proofreading before being published online and in print.

8. Post-Publication Review

The JSMT encourages continued academic discussion and welcomes post-publication feedback. If readers or researchers identify any errors, ethical concerns, or inaccuracies in a published article, appropriate corrections, clarifications, or retractions may be issued.

9. Ethical Compliance

The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Any cases of suspected ethical misconduct, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflicts of interest, will be investigated thoroughly.

The JSMT is committed to a fair, timely, and transparent peer review process. For any inquiries regarding the review process, please contact the editorial office.