Special Issue Guidelines

International Journal of Physiotherapy (IJPHY)

(Aligned with Scopus & Web of Science Standards)

A Special Issue is a peer-reviewed collection of high-quality scholarly articles focused on a defined theme within the scope of the International Journal of Physiotherapy. All Special Issues must uphold the highest standards of academic integrity, editorial transparency, and research excellence, consistent with indexing requirements of major databases such as Scopus and Web of Science.

  1. Proposal for Special Issues

Proposals must be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief and should include:

1.1 Title and Scope

  • Clear, specific, and academically relevant title
  • Defined scope aligned with physiotherapy and rehabilitation sciences
  • Evidence of novelty, timeliness, and global relevance

1.2 Guest Editor(s) Information

Each proposed Guest Editor must provide:

  • Full name and institutional affiliation
  • Official institutional email (preferred over personal email)
  • ORCID ID (mandatory for transparency)
  • Research profiles (e.g., Google Scholar, Scopus Author ID)
  • Summary of editorial/research experience

Note:

  • Maximum of three Guest Editors (exceptions must be justified)
  • Editors should have a strong publication record in indexed journals

1.3 Rationale (Max. 200 Words)

  • Justification of the theme’s importance
  • Contribution to advancing physiotherapy knowledge
  • Relevance to international readership

1.4 Timeline

  • Call for papers release date
  • Submission deadline
  • Expected review and publication timeline
  1. Editorial and Peer Review Standards

All manuscripts must strictly follow internationally recognized publishing standards:

  • Double-blind peer review with at least two independent reviewers
  • Editorial independence must be maintained at all stages
  • Clear documentation of editorial decisions
  • Adherence to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines
  • Use of plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate)

The journal ensures:

  • No compromise in scientific rigor
  • Transparent and auditable editorial processes
  • Consistency with regular issue standards
  1. Responsibilities of Guest Editors

Guest Editors are expected to uphold indexing-quality editorial practices:

  • Ensure scientific merit and originality of submissions
  • Recommend qualified and unbiased reviewers
  • Avoid any form of editorial bias or misconduct
  • Maintain proper documentation of editorial decisions

The journal editorial office will support:

  • Administrative communication
  • Reviewer follow-ups
  • Technical checks and compliance
  1. Manuscript Handling Workflow

4.1 Submission

  • All manuscripts must be submitted via the official online system
  • Authors must select the relevant Special Issue
  • Each submission receives a unique manuscript ID

4.2 Initial Screening (Technical Check)

Manuscripts are evaluated for:

  • Scope alignment
  • Formatting and structure
  • Ethical compliance
  • Plagiarism (recommended similarity <05–10%)
  • Methodological soundness

Desk rejection may occur if standards are not met.

4.3 Peer Review Process

  • Minimum two independent reviewers per manuscript
  • Guest Editors must suggest at least four reviewers per paper (1:4 ratio)
  • Reviewers must have:
    • Relevant expertise
    • Recent publications in indexed journals
    • No conflicts of interest

Reviewer selection should prioritize:

  • International diversity
  • Institutional diversity
  • Academic credibility

4.4 Editorial Decisions

Decisions must be:

  • Evidence-based (reviewer reports)
  • Transparent and justifiable
  • Consistent with journal policies

Possible decisions:

  • Accept
  • Minor/Major Revision
  • Reject
  • Re-review (if needed)
  1. Ethical and Publishing Standards

To meet International Journal of Physiotherapy requirements, the following are mandatory:

5.1 Publication Ethics

  • Compliance with COPE guidelines
  • Ethical approval for human/animal studies
  • Informed consent statements
  • Clinical trial registration (if applicable)

5.2 Conflict of Interest

  • Mandatory disclosure by:
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Guest Editors

5.3 Data Transparency

  • Encouragement of data availability statements
  • Reproducibility and methodological clarity

5.4 Citation Integrity

  • No coercive citation practices
  • References must be relevant and justified
  • Avoid manipulation of journal metrics
  1. Confidentiality and Transparency

Guest Editors must:

  • Use only the journal’s official system for communication
  • Maintain confidentiality of:
    • Manuscripts
    • Reviewer identities
  • Ensure full traceability of editorial actions
  1. Submissions by Guest Editors
  • Maximum of two submissions per Guest Editor
  • Must undergo independent handling by the journal editorial team
  • No involvement of Guest Editors in their own manuscripts
  1. Conflict of Interest Management

Guest Editors must:

  • Recuse themselves from handling conflicted manuscripts
  • Avoid selecting reviewers with conflicts
  • Follow strict ethical guidelines in all decisions
  1. Promotion and Visibility

To align with indexing visibility standards:

  • Avoid spam or bulk email campaigns
  • Use ethical promotion strategies:
    • Academic networks
    • Institutional channels
    • Conferences and symposia
    • Professional social media

The journal will:

  • Promote via official website and platforms
  • Ensure discoverability and indexing compliance
  1. Quality Control and Indexing Compliance

Special Issues must demonstrate:

  • High citation potential
  • International authorship diversity
  • Strong peer-review integrity
  • Academic relevance and contribution
  • Consistent publication timelines

Failure to meet these standards may result in:

  • Rejection of the Special Issue proposal
  • Removal or discontinuation of the issue
  1. Final Statement

The International Journal of Physiotherapy is committed to publishing Special Issues that meet global indexing standards, ensuring credibility, visibility, and academic impact. All contributors are expected to adhere strictly to these guidelines.