Policy Document

About the Journal

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal and the official academic publication of the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association, Pakistan (PTRA). Published by Health and Research Insights, JPTRA is dedicated to advancing high-quality scientific research, professional knowledge, and evidence-based clinical practice in the fields of physical therapy, rehabilitation sciences, and allied health disciplines.

JPTRA was established with a clear mission to serve as a credible, transparent, and ethically governed platform for disseminating original scientific work that contributes meaningfully to the understanding, development, and application of rehabilitation sciences. The journal prioritizes methodological soundness, clinical relevance, and academic originality, ensuring that all published work meets internationally recognized standards of scholarly publishing.

The journal operates under a rigorous editorial framework that emphasizes objectivity, fairness, transparency, and independence in editorial decision-making. All submissions undergo a structured editorial screening followed by a double-blind peer review process, ensuring that manuscripts are evaluated solely on scientific merit, methodological quality, ethical compliance, and contribution to the field, without bias related to authorship, institutional affiliation, nationality, or gender.

JPTRA adheres to globally accepted ethical and publishing standards, including the principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and international best practices for open-access publishing. The journal maintains strict policies on research integrity, plagiarism prevention, data transparency, authorship responsibility, and conflict of interest disclosure.

As an open-access journal, JPTRA is committed to equitable knowledge dissemination, ensuring that research findings are freely accessible to clinicians, researchers, educators, policymakers, and students worldwide without financial or subscription barriers. All published articles are assigned Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to ensure persistent accessibility, accurate citation, and long-term archiving.

JPTRA seeks to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice by publishing work that directly informs patient care, rehabilitation strategies, functional recovery, disability prevention, and quality-of-life improvement across diverse populations. Through its scholarly contributions, the journal aims to strengthen the professional identity of physiotherapists, support interdisciplinary collaboration, and contribute to innovation in rehabilitation sciences at national and international levels.

Aims and Scope

The primary aim of the Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) is to promote excellence in rehabilitation research, education, and clinical practice by publishing scientifically rigorous, ethically sound, and clinically relevant scholarly work. The journal serves as a platform for advancing evidence-based practice, professional development, and innovation within physical therapy and related rehabilitation disciplines.

JPTRA aims to:

Encourage the generation and dissemination of high-quality original research that advances rehabilitation science and practice
Support the integration of research evidence into clinical decision-making and patient care
Promote methodological rigor, transparency, and reproducibility in rehabilitation research
Foster interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaboration within healthcare and rehabilitation
Address rehabilitation needs across acute, subacute, chronic, and community-based settings
Contribute to policy development, professional standards, and public health rehabilitation initiatives

The scope of JPTRA encompasses a broad range of topics within physical therapy, rehabilitation sciences, and allied health, including but not limited to:

Musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, pediatric, geriatric, and sports rehabilitation
Orthopedic, postoperative, trauma, and pain management rehabilitation
Neurorehabilitation, stroke recovery, spinal cord injury, and neurodegenerative disorders
Cardiovascular and respiratory physiotherapy
Community-based rehabilitation, disability management, and assistive technologies
Preventive physiotherapy, health promotion, ergonomics, and workplace rehabilitation
Rehabilitation education, curriculum development, and professional training
Rehabilitation outcomes research, measurement tools, and functional assessment
Digital health, tele-rehabilitation, and emerging technologies in rehabilitation
Health systems, rehabilitation policy, and public health rehabilitation

JPTRA publishes a diverse range of article types to support comprehensive scholarly communication, including:

Original research articles
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Narrative and scoping reviews
Clinical studies and trials
Case reports and case series (where ethically justified and educationally relevant)
Methodological papers
Professional perspectives and evidence-informed commentaries

The journal welcomes submissions from clinicians, academicians, researchers, postgraduate students, and interdisciplinary professionals at both national and international levels. JPTRA particularly encourages research that addresses rehabilitation challenges in low- and middle-income countries, resource-limited settings, and diverse healthcare systems, while maintaining universal scientific and ethical standards.

Frequency of the Journal

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) follows a clearly defined and transparent publication frequency aligned with its developmental phase and long-term sustainability strategy.

Biannual Publication:
During its establishment and consolidation phase, JPTRA published two issues per year . This biannual model allowed the journal to build a strong editorial foundation, implement robust peer review mechanisms, establish ethical governance structures, and ensure consistency in publication quality.

The journal’s publication frequency is reviewed periodically by the editorial board to ensure that quality, peer review rigor, and editorial standards are maintained without compromise.

Timelines of Publication of Issues

JPTRA maintains a predictable, transparent, and publicly declared publication schedule, which is essential for academic credibility, indexing requirements, and author confidence.

Biannual Publication Schedule :
During the biannual phase, JPTRA published:

July Issue (First half of the year)
December Issue (Second half of the year)

This schedule ensured adequate time for peer review, revisions, editorial decision-making, copyediting, and production, while maintaining consistency and reliability.

The journal follows a continuous workflow model within each issue, allowing articles to be processed efficiently while adhering to strict quality controls. Clear publication timelines contribute to transparency, reduce uncertainty for authors, and align with international best practices for scholarly communication.

JPTRA is committed to minimizing unnecessary delays while ensuring that peer review remains thorough, independent, and objective. Any changes to publication schedules, if required, are formally communicated through official journal channels.

Peer Review Policy & Process

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) upholds a rigorous, transparent, and ethically governed peer review system as the cornerstone of its scholarly publishing process. Peer review at JPTRA is designed to ensure scientific validity, methodological rigor, originality, ethical compliance, and clinical relevance, while maintaining fairness, objectivity, and confidentiality throughout the evaluation process.

JPTRA follows a double-blind peer review model, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed. This approach minimizes bias related to institutional affiliation, seniority, nationality, gender, or professional background and ensures that manuscripts are evaluated solely on their academic merit.

Editorial Screening

Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes an initial editorial assessment conducted by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated Associate Editor. This preliminary review evaluates whether the submission:

Falls within the aims and scope of the journal
Meets basic methodological and scientific standards
Complies with ethical requirements and reporting guidelines
Adheres to submission and formatting instructions
Demonstrates sufficient originality and academic relevance

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be desk-rejected with constructive feedback, allowing authors to improve their work prior to resubmission or submission elsewhere.

Peer Review Assignment

Manuscripts passing the editorial screening are assigned to two or more independent expert reviewers with subject-specific expertise. Reviewers are selected based on:

Academic and clinical expertise in the relevant field
Prior research and publication record
Experience in peer review and scholarly evaluation
Absence of conflicts of interest

JPTRA ensures diversity in reviewer selection to promote balanced, multidisciplinary perspectives.

Review Process

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts using a structured review framework focusing on:

Scientific originality and contribution to the field
Study design, methodology, and statistical rigor
Ethical considerations and approvals
Clarity, coherence, and scholarly presentation
Relevance to clinical practice and rehabilitation science
Appropriateness of conclusions in relation to data

Reviewers provide constructive, evidence-based feedback and make one of the following recommendations:

Accept without revision
Minor revision
Major revision
Reject

Editorial Decision-Making

Final publication decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief or the editorial board based on:

Reviewer reports
Scientific merit of the manuscript
Author responses to reviewer comments
Compliance with ethical and editorial policies

JPTRA reserves the right to seek additional reviews if reviewer opinions diverge significantly. Editorial decisions are independent and not influenced by financial, institutional, or personal considerations.

Confidentiality and Integrity

All manuscripts and reviewer reports are treated as confidential. Reviewers are prohibited from sharing, using, or citing unpublished material for personal or professional advantage.

Standard Reviewer’s Guidelines

JPTRA recognizes reviewers as essential contributors to scholarly quality and integrity. Reviewers are expected to adhere to high professional and ethical standards consistent with international peer review best practices.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and professionally
Provide constructive, specific, and actionable feedback
Evaluate manuscripts within the agreed timeframe
Declare any potential conflicts of interest
Maintain strict confidentiality

Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers should assess manuscripts based on:

Relevance to journal scope
Originality and novelty
Scientific and methodological rigor
Ethical compliance and approvals
Validity and reliability of results
Quality of discussion and interpretation
Accuracy of references and citations

Ethical Expectations

Reviewers must:

Refrain from personal criticism of authors
Avoid biased or discriminatory language
Report suspected plagiarism, data fabrication, or ethical misconduct
Decline review if conflicts of interest exist

Timeliness and Professional Conduct

JPTRA emphasizes timely reviews to support efficient publication workflows. Reviewers unable to meet deadlines are expected to inform the editorial office promptly.

Reviewer contributions are acknowledged periodically by the journal in recognition of their academic service.

Originality and Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and academic misconduct. All submitted manuscripts must represent original, unpublished work that has not been submitted or published elsewhere.

Acceptabel Limit: less than 20%

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

Direct copying of text without attribution
Paraphrasing substantial portions without proper citation
Self-plagiarism or redundant publication
Data fabrication or falsification
Unauthorized use of figures, tables, or datasets

Plagiarism Detection

All manuscripts submitted to JPTRA are screened using reliable plagiarism detection software prior to peer review. Similarity reports are evaluated by editors to distinguish between acceptable overlap (e.g., references, methodology descriptions) and unethical duplication.

Acceptable Similarity Thresholds

While similarity percentages are interpreted contextually, JPTRA generally expects:

Overall similarity index within acceptable scholarly limits
No single source contributing excessive similarity
Proper citation of previously published work

Manuscripts exceeding acceptable limits may be returned for correction, rejected outright, or investigated further depending on severity.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Confirmed cases of plagiarism may result in:

Immediate rejection
Retraction of published articles
Notification to authors’ institutions
Blacklisting from future submissions

JPTRA follows COPE flowcharts and guidelines in handling plagiarism and ethical breaches.

Subscription Details

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) operates under a full open-access publishing model, ensuring unrestricted access to scholarly content without subscription barriers.

Open Access Policy

All articles are freely accessible online immediately upon publication
No subscription or access fees are charged to readers, institutions, or libraries
Open access supports global dissemination, citation, and clinical impact

Archiving and Accessibility

JPTRA ensures long-term accessibility through:

DOI assignment for all published articles
Digital archiving systems and backups
Permanent online availability through the journal website

Institutional and Individual Access

As an open-access journal:

No individual or institutional subscriptions are required
Content may be accessed globally without registration
Articles may be shared for educational and non-commercial use in accordance with journal copyright policies

Sustainability Model

JPTRA maintains editorial independence and quality through transparent operational policies and clearly defined publication processes. Any publication-related charges applicable to authors are communicated separately under author guidelines and do not influence editorial decisions.

Journal Operations

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) operates under a clearly defined, transparent, and professionally governed editorial and administrative framework designed to uphold the highest standards of scholarly publishing. The journal’s operations are structured to ensure editorial independence, scientific rigor, ethical compliance, and operational efficiency, while maintaining accountability to authors, reviewers, readers, and the broader academic community.

JPTRA is published by Health and Research Insights on behalf of the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association, Pakistan (PTRA). The publisher provides technical, administrative, and infrastructural support, while editorial decisions remain entirely independent and are made solely on the basis of academic merit and ethical considerations.

Editorial Governance Structure

JPTRA follows a hierarchical and functionally defined editorial structure, which includes:

Editor-in-Chief, responsible for strategic direction, editorial integrity, and final publication decisions
Associate Editors, responsible for managing submissions within their areas of expertise
Editorial Board Members, who provide subject-specific guidance, policy input, and scholarly oversight
Managing and Technical Editors, responsible for manuscript processing, copyediting, production, and publication workflows

All editorial roles are governed by clear terms of reference, conflict of interest disclosures, and professional conduct expectations.

Manuscript Management and Workflow

JPTRA utilizes a structured manuscript management system to ensure consistency, traceability, and transparency throughout the publication process. Key operational stages include:

Manuscript submission and acknowledgment
Editorial screening and desk evaluation
Double-blind peer review coordination
Author revision and response assessment
Final editorial decision
Copyediting, proofreading, and layout preparation
DOI assignment and online publication

Each stage is documented to ensure accountability and adherence to declared timelines.

Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

JPTRA implements internal quality assurance mechanisms, including:

Periodic review of editorial policies and workflows
Reviewer performance evaluation
Author and reviewer feedback assessment
Compliance audits with ethical and publishing standards

The journal is committed to continuous improvement and alignment with evolving international best practices in scholarly communication.

Ethics Statement: Ethical Consent & Guidelines

JPTRA is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in research and publication. The journal adheres to the ethical principles outlined by COPE, ICMJE, the Declaration of Helsinki, and internationally recognized standards governing human and animal research.

Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

Authors submitting research involving human participants must:

Obtain prior approval from a recognized Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee
Clearly state the name of the approving body and reference number
Confirm that informed consent was obtained from participants or legally authorized representatives

For vulnerable populations, additional safeguards and consent procedures must be explicitly described.

Clinical Trials and Registrations

Clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry prior to participant enrollment. Trial registration numbers must be included in the manuscript.

Animal Research Ethics

Studies involving animals must comply with internationally accepted ethical guidelines and institutional approvals. Authors must ensure humane treatment and justify the necessity of animal use.

Research Integrity

JPTRA strictly prohibits:

Data fabrication or falsification
Selective reporting or outcome manipulation
Undisclosed conflicts of interest
Duplicate or redundant publication

Suspected breaches are investigated in accordance with COPE procedures.

Malpractice Statement

JPTRA maintains a zero-tolerance approach to publication malpractice. All stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are expected to uphold the principles of honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Author Responsibilities

Authors must ensure:

Accuracy and integrity of reported data
Proper attribution and citation of sources
Disclosure of funding and conflicts of interest
Accountability for all aspects of the work

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

Fair and unbiased decision-making
Confidential handling of manuscripts
Timely and transparent communication
Addressing ethical concerns promptly

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers must:

Provide objective and confidential evaluations
Declare conflicts of interest
Report suspected misconduct

Handling Misconduct

JPTRA follows COPE flowcharts to investigate allegations. Actions may include correction, retraction, expression of concern, or notification to institutions.

Privacy Statement

JPTRA is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. The journal complies with internationally accepted data protection principles.

Data Collection and Use

Personal information collected during submission and review is used exclusively for:

Editorial communication
Peer review coordination
Publication and indexing purposes

Data is not shared with third parties without consent, except where legally required.

Confidentiality

All manuscript-related communications and reviewer identities are treated as confidential. Access to personal data is restricted to authorized editorial personnel.

Data Security

JPTRA employs technical and administrative safeguards to protect stored data from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse.

Copyrights Statement

JPTRA respects intellectual property rights and ensures transparent copyright arrangements that balance author rights with open-access dissemination.

Author Copyright

Authors retain copyright of their published work. By submitting to JPTRA, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish, distribute, and archive the work.

Licensing

Published articles are made available under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 4.0), permitting non-commercial use with proper attribution, in accordance with the journal’s open-access policy.

Third-Party Material

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted material and must acknowledge such permissions appropriately.

Reuse and Distribution

Articles may be shared for educational and research purposes, provided proper citation and adherence to licensing terms.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest Policy

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) is committed to maintaining the highest levels of transparency, integrity, and trust in scholarly publishing. Disclosure of conflicts of interest (COI) is a fundamental requirement for ensuring objectivity in research reporting, editorial decision-making, and peer review. JPTRA follows internationally recognized guidelines, including those of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), to identify, manage, and disclose potential conflicts that could influence the interpretation, evaluation, or publication of scholarly work.

Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest (such as research validity, patient welfare, or academic integrity) may be influenced by a secondary interest. Conflicts may be financial, personal, academic, professional, or institutional and may arise at any stage of the publication process.

Author Disclosure Requirements

All authors submitting manuscripts to JPTRA are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could be perceived to influence their work. These include, but are not limited to:

Financial relationships (grants, employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership, patents, or royalties)
Institutional affiliations or professional relationships
Personal relationships or competing academic interests
Funding sources and sponsorships

Authors must declare conflicts at the time of submission and include a Conflict of Interest Statement within the manuscript. If no conflicts exist, authors must explicitly state that there are none.

Editorial and Reviewer Disclosures

Editors and reviewers involved in the evaluation of manuscripts are required to disclose any conflicts of interest prior to accepting an assignment. Individuals with significant conflicts must recuse themselves from the review or editorial process.

Editors are responsible for ensuring that conflicts do not compromise impartiality or fairness in editorial decisions. Reviewer selection is conducted to avoid conflicts related to institutional affiliation, collaboration history, or personal relationships.

Management of Conflicts

When conflicts are identified, JPTRA implements appropriate management strategies, which may include:

Public disclosure within the published article
Editorial oversight by an independent editor
Reviewer reassignment
In exceptional cases, rejection of the manuscript

Failure to disclose conflicts may result in manuscript rejection, correction, or retraction, depending on severity.

Correction and Retraction of Research Articles

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) recognizes that maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record is a critical responsibility. The journal is committed to correcting errors and addressing concerns promptly and transparently in accordance with COPE Retraction Guidelines and international best practices.

Post-Publication Responsibility

Authors, editors, reviewers, and readers share responsibility for identifying errors or concerns in published articles. JPTRA encourages the reporting of any inaccuracies, ethical concerns, or suspected misconduct.

Corrections (Errata and Corrigenda)

Corrections are issued when errors are identified that do not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions of an article. These may include:

Typographical or formatting errors
Minor data or calculation inaccuracies
Author name or affiliation corrections

Corrections are published promptly, clearly linked to the original article, and indexed to ensure transparency and traceability.

Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when there is inconclusive evidence of misconduct or when an investigation is ongoing but unresolved. This notice alerts readers to potential issues while preserving due process.

Retractions

Retractions are issued when articles are found to contain:

Fabricated or falsified data
Plagiarized content
Redundant or duplicate publication
Serious methodological or ethical violations
Undisclosed conflicts of interest affecting validity

Retracted articles remain accessible for the scholarly record but are clearly marked as retracted, with an accompanying explanation.

Retraction Process

The retraction process involves:

Preliminary assessment by the editorial team
Communication with authors and institutions
Independent investigation where required
Final decision based on evidence and ethical guidelines

Retractions are not punitive but serve to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.

Adherence to Community Standards

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) is dedicated to fostering a scholarly environment grounded in respect, inclusivity, accountability, and professional responsibility. The journal aligns its policies and practices with international community standards that promote ethical research conduct, diversity, equity, and social responsibility.

Professional Conduct and Respect

JPTRA expects all participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and readers—to engage respectfully and professionally. Discriminatory language, harassment, or abusive behavior is not tolerated.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The journal actively promotes diversity in authorship, editorial board composition, and reviewer selection. JPTRA values contributions from diverse geographic, cultural, and professional backgrounds and is committed to equitable treatment without discrimination.

Responsible Research and Reporting

JPTRA encourages responsible research practices, including:

Transparency in methodology and data reporting
Ethical treatment of research participants
Accurate representation of findings
Responsible citation and acknowledgment of prior work

Community Engagement and Public Trust

Recognizing the societal impact of rehabilitation research, JPTRA supports scholarship that addresses public health needs, community-based rehabilitation, and policy-relevant issues. The journal seeks to enhance public trust by promoting clarity, accessibility, and accountability in published research.

Handling Complaints and Appeals

JPTRA provides a transparent mechanism for handling complaints and appeals related to editorial decisions, ethical concerns, or policy application. All appeals are reviewed objectively and independently.

Editor Selection Policy

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) recognizes that a strong, independent, and ethically governed editorial leadership is fundamental to maintaining scientific rigor, editorial quality, and trust in scholarly publishing. The Editor Selection Policy is designed to ensure that editorial appointments are made through a transparent, merit-based, and ethically sound process, consistent with international best practices in academic publishing.

JPTRA adheres to globally recognized principles of editorial independence, accountability, and professionalism as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and international indexing standards.

Principles Governing Editor Selection

Editorial appointments at JPTRA are guided by the following core principles:

Scientific competence and subject-matter expertise
Editorial independence and integrity
Transparency and fairness in selection
Absence of conflicts of interest
Commitment to ethical publishing standards
Diversity, equity, and inclusivity

The selection process is structured to ensure that editors are capable of upholding the journal’s mission, safeguarding the peer review process, and maintaining the quality and credibility of published content.

Eligibility Criteria for Editorial Roles

Candidates for editorial positions (Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members) must demonstrate:

A strong academic and clinical background in physical therapy, rehabilitation sciences, or allied health disciplines
A consistent record of peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals
Prior experience in peer review, editorial work, or academic leadership
Familiarity with research ethics, reporting guidelines, and publication standards
Professional standing and recognition within the scholarly or clinical community

Appointments are not based on institutional prestige, financial contribution, or personal affiliations.

Selection and Appointment Process

Editorial appointments follow a structured process:

Identification of editorial needs based on journal scope and workload
Nomination or application of qualified candidates
Evaluation by the senior editorial leadership and publisher
Review of academic credentials, publication record, and ethical standing
Formal appointment with defined roles, responsibilities, and term limits

The Editor-in-Chief is appointed based on demonstrated leadership, scholarly reputation, and the ability to uphold editorial independence. Associate Editors and Editorial Board Members are selected to ensure broad disciplinary coverage and geographic representation.

Terms of Appointment and Accountability

Editorial appointments are made for fixed terms, subject to renewal based on performance, engagement, and adherence to journal policies. Editors are expected to:

Act independently of the publisher and sponsoring organizations
Make decisions based solely on scientific merit
Declare and manage conflicts of interest
Uphold confidentiality and ethical standards
Participate actively in editorial and policy development

Editors may be removed from their role in cases of ethical misconduct, persistent non-performance, or breach of editorial responsibilities.

Data Sharing Policy

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) supports responsible data sharing as a means to enhance research transparency, reproducibility, and scientific credibility. The journal aligns its Data Sharing Policy with international best practices, including recommendations from ICMJE, COPE, and global open science initiatives.

JPTRA recognizes that data sharing must balance openness with ethical considerations, participant privacy, and legal constraints.

Scope and Objectives of Data Sharing

The objectives of the JPTRA Data Sharing Policy are to:

Promote transparency and reproducibility of research findings
Enable verification and secondary analysis of data
Encourage responsible reuse of research data
Enhance trust in published research

This policy applies to original research articles, clinical studies, and trials published in the journal.

Author Responsibilities for Data Availability

Authors are encouraged to make underlying data available where ethically and legally permissible. At a minimum, authors must include a Data Availability Statement describing:

Whether data are available
Where data can be accessed
Conditions or restrictions on access
Reasons for non-availability, if applicable

Data may be shared through:

Public data repositories
Institutional repositories
Secure data-sharing platforms
Upon reasonable request to the corresponding author

Ethical and Legal Considerations

Data involving human participants must be shared in compliance with:

Informed consent agreements
Data protection and privacy regulations
Institutional and national ethical guidelines

Personally identifiable information must be removed or anonymized prior to sharing. Where data sharing is restricted due to ethical, legal, or contractual reasons, authors must clearly justify such limitations.

Clinical Trials and Sensitive Data

For clinical trials, JPTRA strongly encourages data sharing in line with international norms. However, patient confidentiality and participant safety remain paramount. Controlled access mechanisms may be used where appropriate.

Editorial Oversight

Editors may request access to underlying data during peer review or post-publication investigation to verify findings. Failure to provide data without valid justification may result in rejection, correction, or retraction.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) acknowledges the increasing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools in scholarly research and writing. While recognizing the potential benefits of such technologies, JPTRA emphasizes that human authorship, accountability, and ethical responsibility remain central to scientific publishing.

This policy aligns with emerging international guidance from COPE, ICMJE, and leading scholarly publishers.

Permissible Use of AI Tools

Authors may use AI-assisted tools for limited purposes, including:

Language editing and grammar refinement
Improving clarity and readability
Formatting and reference management support

AI tools may not be used to:

Generate original research data
Fabricate results or analyses
Produce interpretations or conclusions without human oversight
Replace critical scientific reasoning

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose any use of AI tools in the manuscript, specifying:

The tool used
The purpose of use
The extent of AI assistance

This disclosure should be included in a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Statement.

Authorship and Accountability

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. All authors remain fully responsible for:

The accuracy and integrity of content
Ethical compliance
Originality and proper citation

Any content generated or assisted by AI must be reviewed, verified, and approved by the human authors.

Editorial and Peer Review Use of AI

Editors and reviewers may use AI tools to support administrative tasks or language assessment but must not rely solely on AI for editorial judgment or ethical evaluation. Confidentiality must be maintained at all times.

Misuse of AI

Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI, including content generation that compromises originality or scientific integrity, may result in:

Manuscript rejection
Correction or retraction
Notification to authors’ institutions

JPTRA reserves the right to update its AI policy as technology and international standards evolve.

Grant Support Policy

The Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association (JPTRA) is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in the reporting of financial support associated with published research. Grant support and external funding play a significant role in advancing scientific inquiry; however, such support must be disclosed clearly to safeguard the objectivity, credibility, and trustworthiness of scholarly communication.

JPTRA follows internationally recognized best practices and guidelines, including those of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and global standards for transparency in research funding.

Purpose of the Grant Support Policy

The primary objectives of the JPTRA Grant Support Policy are to:

Promote transparency in research funding and sponsorship
Enable readers to assess potential influences on study design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation
Prevent undisclosed financial interests from compromising scientific integrity
Ensure accountability in the reporting of funded research

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to JPTRA, including original research articles, clinical studies, reviews, and methodological papers.

Disclosure of Funding Sources

Authors are required to disclose all sources of financial support related to the research at the time of manuscript submission. This includes:

Government research grants
Institutional or university funding
Private foundations or non-governmental organizations
Industry or commercial sponsorship
Internal departmental or project-based funding

The disclosure must clearly identify:

The name of the funding organization(s)
Grant or project identification number(s), where applicable
The role of the funder in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation

If the research received no external funding, authors must explicitly state this in a designated Funding Statement.

Independence of Editorial Decisions

JPTRA maintains strict editorial independence. The presence or absence of grant support does not influence:

Editorial screening decisions
Peer review outcomes
Acceptance or rejection of manuscripts

Editors and reviewers are blinded to funding details where possible during the review process to minimize bias. Financial support is evaluated only for transparency and ethical disclosure, not as a criterion of scientific merit.

Industry-Sponsored Research

JPTRA accepts industry-funded research provided that:

The research methodology is scientifically sound and transparent
The role of the sponsor is clearly disclosed
Authors retain full access to data and control over publication decisions
Ethical approvals and participant protections are fully documented

Manuscripts in which sponsors have influenced outcomes, suppressed negative findings, or restricted publication rights are not considered acceptable.

Verification and Compliance

Editors may request additional documentation related to funding disclosures where necessary. Failure to disclose grant support accurately may result in:

Manuscript rejection
Publication of a correction
Retraction of the article in cases of serious non-disclosure

JPTRA follows COPE guidelines in investigating funding-related ethical concerns.

Post-Publication Transparency

Funding disclosures are published alongside the article to ensure transparency for readers, reviewers, and indexing bodies. Any post-publication changes to funding information must be reported immediately and addressed through formal correction mechanisms.