Two Convenient Submission Methods

Choose the submission pathway that best fits your workflow. Both methods ensure your sports medicine and exercise science research receives expert peer review from specialists in biomechanics, physiology, rehabilitation, and athletic performance.

Sports Medicine & Exercise Science Article Types

We publish diverse research advancing athletic performance, injury prevention, rehabilitation science, and exercise physiology. Our expert reviewers specialize in biomechanics, sports nutrition, exercise prescription, and clinical sports medicine.

Pre-Submission Checklist for Sports Medicine Research

Peer Review Timeline: From Submission to Publication

Transparent, efficient review process by sports medicine and exercise science experts:

Submission Requirements for Sports Medicine Research

Manuscript Preparation

Your sports medicine manuscript should follow standard scientific reporting guidelines:

• Title: Concise, descriptive title indicating study type (e.g., "Biomechanical Analysis of...", "Randomized Trial of...", "Systematic Review of...")
• Abstract: Structured abstract (250 words) with Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions. Include key performance metrics or injury outcomes.
• Keywords: 5-8 specific terms for indexing (e.g., "ACL injury prevention", "VO2max", "eccentric training", "return to sport")
• Introduction: Clear rationale, research gap in sports medicine literature, specific aims/hypotheses
• Methods: Detailed participant characteristics (athletes, recreational exercisers), intervention protocols, biomechanical measurements, statistical analyses. Include equipment specifications for motion capture, force plates, metabolic carts, etc.
• Results: Present findings with appropriate statistics. Include tables for participant demographics, figures for biomechanical data, and supplementary videos for movement analysis.
• Discussion: Interpret findings in context of athletic performance, injury prevention, or rehabilitation. Address clinical implications for sports medicine practitioners.
• References: Vancouver style citation. Include seminal sports medicine literature and recent studies in your specific area.

Reporting Guidelines Compliance

Sports medicine research must adhere to discipline-specific reporting standards:

• CONSORT: Required for randomized controlled trials of training interventions or injury prevention programs
• STROBE: Required for observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional injury surveillance)
• PRISMA: Required for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of sports medicine interventions
• ARRIVE: Required for animal studies in exercise physiology or injury models
• CARE: Required for clinical case reports of athletic injuries or unique rehabilitation cases

Data Sharing & Transparency

We encourage open science practices in sports medicine research:

• Deposit raw biomechanical data, training logs, or performance metrics in public repositories (OSF, Figshare, Dryad)
• Share analysis code for statistical models or biomechanical calculations (R, Python, MATLAB)
• Provide supplementary training protocols, exercise descriptions, or rehabilitation progressions
• Include video demonstrations of novel exercises, assessment techniques, or movement patterns

What Happens After Submission?

Editorial Screening (Days 1-3)

Our sports medicine editors evaluate your manuscript for:

• Alignment with journal scope (sports medicine, exercise science, athletic performance)
• Methodological rigor (appropriate study design, adequate sample size, valid measurements)
• Reporting guideline compliance (CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA as applicable)
• Ethical approval documentation for human or animal studies
• Plagiarism screening (iThenticate) - manuscripts with >30% similarity require revision

If your manuscript passes initial screening, it proceeds to peer review. If not, you'll receive feedback on how to improve for resubmission.

Peer Review by Sports Medicine Experts (Days 4-28)

Your manuscript is reviewed by 2-3 experts in your specific area:

• Biomechanics studies: Reviewed by specialists in motion analysis, force measurement, or kinematic assessment
• Exercise physiology: Reviewed by experts in cardiorespiratory fitness, metabolic responses, or training adaptations
• Injury prevention: Reviewed by clinical sports medicine physicians or athletic trainers
• Rehabilitation: Reviewed by physical therapists or sports medicine clinicians
• Nutrition studies: Reviewed by sports dietitians or exercise nutritionists

Reviewers assess methodology, statistical analysis, clinical relevance, and contribution to sports medicine knowledge. You'll receive detailed, constructive feedback regardless of decision.

Editorial Decision & Revision (Day 28+)

Based on reviewer feedback, the editor makes one of four decisions:

• Accept: Your manuscript is accepted as-is (rare, typically after successful revision)
• Minor Revisions: Small changes needed (clarifications, additional analyses, improved figures). Typically re-reviewed by editor only.
• Major Revisions: Significant changes required (additional experiments, reanalysis, restructuring). Re-reviewed by original reviewers.
• Reject: Manuscript does not meet publication standards. Detailed feedback provided for improvement or submission elsewhere.

For revisions, you'll submit a point-by-point response addressing each reviewer comment, with changes highlighted in your manuscript.

Publication & Dissemination (Days 52-60)

Once accepted, your sports medicine research enters production:

• Professional copyediting for clarity and grammar
• Typesetting in journal format with optimized figures and tables
• DOI assignment for permanent citation
• XML conversion for database indexing (PubMed, Scopus)
• Open Access publication with CC-BY license
• Promotion via social media and email alerts to sports medicine community