Authors

  1. Chiarello, Cynthia M. PT, PhD
  2. Editor-in-Chief

Article Content

We came together in the middle of the summer from all parts of the country to collaborate on our common purpose, the Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy (JWHPT). We share a desire to make JWHPT more approachable for both researchers and clinicians. Ultimately, we want JWHPT to be the go-to place for the most relevant information on all aspects of a woman's health as it pertains to physical therapy. I am describing JWHPT's second annual strategic planning meeting and am eager to share with you all that the editors accomplished. Most importantly, while there is great interest in pelvic health in general, we are not "throwing-the-baby-out-with-the-bath-water" and will continue to provide readers with a wide range of topics. We encourage researchers to submit manuscripts on any aspect of women's health as well as abdominal-pelvic physical therapy.

 

Last year at our planning meeting, the editors focused on our major objective, to clarify and streamline JWHPT's information for authors. This year we concentrated on our reviewers. We implemented procedures to make their job of peer-review easier while at the same time upholding quality. We looked at ways to invite more qualified researchers to become reviewers as well as ways to inspire interested novices to give it a try by introducing education and mentoring. Personally, I have always found reviewing manuscripts to be a rewarding experience, with the hidden advantage of learning much more than I would have expected. Finally, we planned "Reject or correct? A guide to effective feedback on the road to publication," our workshop session at CSM 2019. The JWHPT editors encourage authors and reviewers to attend. We are eager to meet you and discuss your projects.

 

This issue contains an interesting mix of articles from research groups in 3 countries. Dr Wasserman's group investigated soft tissue mobilization for cesarean scar intervention. Dr Dufour explores clinical decision-making for pelvic girdle pain in Canadian clinical practice. Dr Deering and colleagues examine the fatigability of the lumbopelvic stabilizing muscles in postpartum women. Dr Simonds et al studied postpartum depression, pelvic girdle pain, and disability. Dr Ogwumik presents musculoskeletal issues in Nigerian female athletes. Dr Dockter's group enlightens us regarding the decision to specialize in women's health. You may have already seen some of these articles as JWHPT now offers Published Online First, which gives readers the ability to find articles electronically before they appear in the published issue. To receive notifications as articles become available, click this link https://journals.lww.com/jwhpt/toc/onlinefirst to enroll. Finally, this issue contains our heart-felt thanks to our reviewers who represent the very best in scholarship and service to the profession.

 

I am so proud of all that we have been able to achieve as a group and promise that we will continue to join forces to bring you innovative, relevant evidence to benefit your practice. My thanks to the Section on Women's Health for their support, Wolters Kluwer our publisher and host, and of course my editors: Mary Dockter, Senior Editor; Associate Editors, Karen Abrahams, Patty Nelson, Becca Reisch, and Tracy Spitznagle; and Book Editor, Rebecca Stephenson. In the words of Hellen Keller, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

 

-Cynthia M. Chiarello, PT, PhD

 

Editor-in-Chief