https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1030-5903
As we transitioned to the 44th year of consecutive publication of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine (JSCM), we revisited how JSCM is evolving in the global community of professionals in the field of spinal cord injury and dysfunction.Citation1
Recent years have seen major increases in manuscript submissions, with a 40% rise in 2020 alone. Research in every aspect of spinal cord injury is being represented, from basic science topics to rehabilitation, and ways to improve the long-term outcomes of individuals and their care partners. In 2020, authors from 45 countries—from Argentina to Vietnam—submitted their work to JSCM, an all-time high for international representation.
One contributing factor to the record increase in 2020 may be the widespread need to limit in-person activities due to measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19. With studies paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, many researchers pivoted to data analysis and manuscript preparation, increasing the flow of submissions for journals like JSCM. Others seized the opportunity to study the impact of COVID-19 on their study populations, gathering important data in real time on the experiences of individuals with spinal cord injury and their care partners during the pandemic.Citation2
With downloads increasing by 38%, we looked at what our readers were reading during 2020 and found the most popular articles focused on new approaches to managing common complications of chronic spinal cord injury—pain and depression,Citation3 bladder and bowel dysfunction,Citation4 and preventing pressure ulcers.Citation5 We also looked at the citations that fueled the increase in JSCM's Impact Factor reported in 2020 (1.816). Leading the top cited papers are influential articles on diverse topics: comprehensive management from acute injury through rehabilitation,Citation6 the effects of combined epidural stimulation and locomotor training on body composition,Citation7 and the elevated risks for drug-related side effects secondary to polypharmacy.Citation8
These journal data point to increasing interest and engagement in spinal cord injury research and care among spinal cord injury professionals in many nations, including some with relatively limited resources in health care and rehabilitation. This trend underscores the need to be proactive in maintaining an Editorial Board that reflects the cultural and socioeconomic diversity of our contributors and our readership. Clearly, practical topics that help professionals provide better care today remain a top priority, while the exchange of information on experimental therapies promises to transform the care continuum of the future. Dealing with the impact of the pandemic on the population with spinal cord injury will continue to be a major focus for clinicians and researchers. With the start of 2021, JSCM new featured new COVID-19 research online, with a growing number of COVID-19-related topics under review.Citation9,Citation10
With the support of the Academy, the Editorial Board, and our publisher, we will continue to work with our contributors to engage our readership with content that serves the needs of the community of spinal cord injury professionals. To ensure that our review process reflects the diversity of the submissions we receive, we encourage you to consider sharing your expertise with JSCM. For more information, contact the assistant editor at [email protected]
References
- Thomas FP, Murphy C. Engaging readers of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine: trending topics in research, care and rehabilitation. J Spinal Cord Med. 2019;42(4):405–406. doi:10.1080/10790268.2019.1626136.
- Thomas FP, Murphy C. COVID-19 and spinal cord injury professionals: maintaining a scholarly perspective. J Spinal Cord Med 2020;43(3):279. doi:10.1080/10790268.2020.1751529.
- Cadel L, DeLuca C, Hitzig SL, Packer TL, Lofters AK, Patel T, et al. Self-management of pain and depression in adults with spinal cord injury: a scoping review. J Spinal Cord Med. 2020;43(3):280–297. doi:10.1080/10790268.2018.1523776.
- Tate DG, Wheeler T, Lane GI, Forchheimer M, Anderson KD, Biering-Sorensen F, et al. Recommendations for evaluation of neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury and/or disease. J Spinal Cord Med. 2020;43(2):141–164. doi:10.1080/10790268.2019.1706033.
- Olney CM, et al. Development of a comprehensive mobile assessment of pressure (CMAP) system for pressure injury prevention for veterans with spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2019;42(6):685–694. doi:10.1080/10790268.2019.1570437.
- Hachem LD, Ahuja CS, Fehlings MG. Assessment and management of acute spinal cord injury: from point of injury to rehabilitation. J Spinal Cord Med. 2017;40(6):665–675. doi:10.1080/10790268.2017.1329076.
- Terson de Paleville DGL, Harkema SJ, Angeli CA. Epidural stimulation with locomotor training improves body composition in individuals with cervical or upper thoracic motor complete spinal cord injury: a series of case studies. J Spinal Cord Med. 2019;42(1):32–38. doi:10.1080/10790268.2018.1449373.
- Kitzman P, Cecil D, Kolpek JH. The risks of polypharmacy following spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2017 Mar;40(2):147–153. doi:10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000235.
- Galea MD, et al. COVID-19 in spinal cord injury patients at a veterans administration hospital: a case series. J Spinal Cord Med. 2021. doi:10.1080/10790268.2020.1871254.
- Marco-Ahulló A, Montesinos-Magraner L, González L-M, Morales J, Bernabéu-García JA, García-Massó X. Impact of COVID-19 on the self-reported physical activity of people with complete thoracic spinal cord injury full-time manual wheelchair users. J Spinal Cord Med. 2021. doi:10.1080/10790268.2020.1857490.