American Journal of Sports Medicine

American Journal of Sports Medicine
Title	American Journal of Sports Medicine
Discipline	Orthopedics; Sports Medicine
Abbreviation	Am. J. Sports Med.
Publisher	SAGE Publications
Country	United States
History	1972–present
Frequency	Monthly
Impact	6.4
Impact-year	2023

American Journal of Sports Medicine is a peer-reviewed medical journal specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine clinical research, surgical techniques, biomechanics, and rehabilitation. The journal publishes original research, reviews, case reports, and consensus statements that inform practice across institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Hospital for Special Surgery. It serves researchers and clinicians affiliated with organizations including the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, National Collegiate Athletic Association, International Olympic Committee, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and World Rugby.

History

The journal was founded in the early 1970s during expansions of specialty publishing by houses like SAGE Publications and contemporaries such as Elsevier and Springer Science+Business Media. It emerged alongside journals including The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, British Journal of Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy. Early editorial leadership drew contributors from centers like University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Columbia University, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Over decades its publication practices evolved in parallel with standards set by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, Committee on Publication Ethics, and indexing efforts by National Library of Medicine and Clarivate Analytics.

Scope and Content

The journal covers clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, biomechanical investigations, surgical technique descriptions, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses relevant to institutions such as Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, American Sports Medicine Institute, and Aspen Orthopedics. Topics frequently addressed include anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction research conducted at Steadman Philippon Research Institute, rotator cuff repair analyses from Hospital for Special Surgery, cartilage restoration reports involving Cartilage Restoration Center, concussion management studies linked to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Football League, and rehabilitation protocols aligned with American College of Sports Medicine recommendations. The journal often publishes guidelines and consensus statements developed with stakeholders like World Health Organization, International Olympic Committee Medical Commission, and specialty societies including European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy.

Editorial Board and Publication Practices

The editorial board comprises clinicians and scientists from universities and hospitals such as Harvard Medical School, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Duke University School of Medicine, and Emory University School of Medicine. Editors adhere to policies consistent with International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and Committee on Publication Ethics, and implement peer review workflows similar to practices at The Lancet, JAMA, and New England Journal of Medicine. The journal coordinates special issues and supplements in collaboration with conferences such as the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Arthroscopy Association of North America, and European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy Congress.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is abstracted and indexed in major services and databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. It is listed within citation reports maintained by Clarivate Analytics and bibliometric analyses cited in reviews from institutions such as National Institutes of Health and World Health Organization. The journal’s content is discoverable through platforms used by libraries at Library of Congress, Wellcome Library, New York Public Library, and university consortia including Academic Search Premier subscribers.

Impact and Reception

The journal holds influence among clinical communities connected to National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, FIFA, and Union of European Football Associations for evidence informing athlete care. Its impact factor, tracked by Clarivate Analytics, places it among leading specialty journals alongside British Journal of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy. The journal has been cited in practice guidelines from bodies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and European Society of Cardiology when sport-related injury data are relevant. Commentary and critiques of methodology have appeared in outlets like BMJ, The Lancet, and JAMA Surgery.

Notable Articles and Contributions

Published works have advanced techniques and knowledge exemplified by influential studies originating from centers like Steadman Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Hospital for Special Surgery, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. High-impact contributions include randomized trials, long-term cohort studies, and biomechanical research that informed practices adopted by Major League Baseball Players Association, NFL Players Association, International Olympic Committee, and FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence programs. The journal has disseminated consensus statements on topics such as concussion protocols, return-to-play criteria, and arthroscopic surgical standards developed in collaboration with organizations including American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy, and International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.

Category:Orthopedics journals