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BioMed Central publishes open access journal dedicated to physiotherapy

10 Jul 2015

In partnership with the Italian Society of Physiotherapy and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, BioMed Central has launched Archives of Physiotherapy. It is one of the few open access journals specializing solely in the subject of physiotherapy. The article-processing charges (APCs) will be covered on behalf of authors by both organizations for the first four years of publication.

Archives of Physiotherapy was formerly known as Italian Journal of Physiotherapy, its new name reflects the international reach the journal plans on gaining by converting to the open access model. The journal will publish research articles covering all aspects of physiotherapy, including disability (musculoskeletal, neurological, cardio-pulmonary), diagnostic, measurement-focused, observational, prognostic and qualitative studies. It will also publish systematic reviews, meta-analyses and case reports.

The journal’s Editor-in-Chief is Marco Baccini, Director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory of the Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, “Piero Palagi” Hospital, Florence and coordinator for the physiotherapy degree course at Florence University. His research has focused on the areas of geriatrics and neurorehabilitation. He has a special interest in biomechanics and kinesiology and in the development and clinical applications of motion analysis techniques and other measurement tools.

Marco Baccini said: “Funding for physiotherapy research is limited so covering APCs makes it easier to publish articles open access. A new open access journal in this field, where APCs are funded on behalf of authors in the initial years, will offer a new platform for research dissemination and knowledge sharing amongst the physiotherapy community and profession without limitations.”

Roberto Gatti, President of the Italian Society of Physiotherapy (Società Italiana di Fisioterapia – SIF), explains their vision: “SIF was founded in 2010 with the purpose of promoting scientific activities within the field of physiotherapy in Italy, and the Italian Journal of Physiotherapy was key in achieving this goal. The SIF has now decided it’s time to develop the journal further by making it a truly international publication. We believe that Archives of Physiotherapy has the potential to become the leading reference journal for physiotherapy associations and institutions in Europe and beyond.”

Marco Barbero, professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana) and Associate Editor for Archives of Physiotherapy, said: “Physiotherapy research is taking big steps forward, and we believe that the publication of this journal through BioMed Central will help to enhance the visibility of the contribution of physiotherapists to the healthcare system.”

Deborah Kahn, Executive Vice President of BioMed Central, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Italian Society of Physiotherapy, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland and Archives of Physiotherapy to BioMed Central. We look forward to bringing the latest research to the physiotherapy profession and related communities through this new open access journal.”


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Notes for editors

1. BioMed Central is an STM (Science, Technology and Medicine) publisher which has pioneered the open access publishing model. All peer-reviewed research articles published by BioMed Central are made immediately and freely accessible online, and are licensed to allow redistribution and reuse. BioMed Central is part of Springer Science+Business Media, a leading global publisher in the STM sector.