American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Title	American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Abbreviation	Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil.
Discipline	Physical medicine and rehabilitation

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation is a peer-reviewed medical journal focused on Rehabilitation medicine, Physical therapy, Neurology, Orthopedics, and Sports medicine. The journal publishes original research, reviews, and clinical reports relevant to practitioners affiliated with institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Stanford Health Care. Its readership includes members of organizations like the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health.

History

The journal was established during a period of expansion in Rehabilitation medicine alongside developments at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Mount Sinai Hospital (Manhattan), Toronto General Hospital, and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Early editorial leadership drew contributors from academic centers such as University of Pennsylvania Health System, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, University of Michigan Health System, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. It evolved in parallel with landmark events including the post‑World War II rehabilitation initiatives, the founding of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the passage of legislation like the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the emergence of subspecialty boards such as the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the growth of multidisciplinary programs at institutions like Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

Scope and Content

The journal covers clinical trials, meta‑analyses, case series, and consensus statements in areas overlapping Neurology centers like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Orthopedics departments at Hospital for Special Surgery and Mayo Clinic, and Sports medicine programs affiliated with American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital. Topics frequently addressed include spinal cord injury research tied to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, stroke rehabilitation linked to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, pediatric rehabilitation involving Boston Children's Hospital, geriatric rehabilitation at Mount Sinai Hospital (Manhattan), and pain management research intersecting with Cleveland Clinic and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The journal also publishes practice guidelines developed with stakeholders such as American Academy of Neurology, International Spinal Cord Society, European Academy of Neurology, World Confederation for Physical Therapy, and International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Editorial and Publication Information

Editorial operations have been coordinated with editorial boards comprising clinicians from Mayo Clinic, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles Health, and Yale New Haven Hospital. Peer review systems reference standards promoted by bodies like International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, Committee on Publication Ethics, National Library of Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, and World Health Organization. Publishing partnerships and distribution networks have involved publishers with ties to Elsevier, Wiley-Blackwell, Springer Nature, Oxford University Press, and Cambridge University Press and collaborations with library consortia such as the Association of American Medical Colleges and PubMed Central archiving initiatives.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is indexed in major services alongside titles from The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, BMJ, and Annals of Internal Medicine, with listings in databases managed by PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL. Citation metrics are tracked by organizations such as Clarivate Analytics, Elsevier (through Scopus), and aggregators used by institutions including Harvard Medical School, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Imperial College London.

Reception and Impact

The journal has influenced clinical practice at centers like Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Craig Hospital, Shepherd Center, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center and contributed to guideline development referenced by American Academy of Neurology, American College of Physicians, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, European Stroke Organisation, and World Health Organization. Its impact has been cited in position statements from organizations such as American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, American Occupational Therapy Association, American Physical Therapy Association, International Spinal Cord Society, and European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Notable Articles and Special Issues

Notable publications have addressed topics central to programs at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and University of Washington Medical Center, including trials of interventions for stroke recovery, spinal cord injury management, traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, and chronic pain therapies. Special issues have been guest‑edited by leaders associated with American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, World Health Organization, and National Institutes of Health to focus on themes like tele‑rehabilitation, outcomes measurement, health disparities, and interdisciplinary care models.

Category:Medical journals