Guidelines for authors of MSK

Musculoskeletal system: professional knowledge, therapy, research results

Dear authors,

The journal MSK addresses physiotherapists treating patients with musculoskeletal disorders. The journal was established in 1997 and as from 2012 it has been published with a new concept and in a new form.

MSK is devoted to the continuing education of physiotherapists interested in manual therapy. It is the most important scientific platform for manual therapy in German-speaking countries.

The journal depicts progress in the field of manual therapy and supports its further development.

The editorial team is staffed by renowned physiotherapists: Johannes Bessler, Dr. Claus Beyerlein, Sebastian Klien, Sebastian Löscher, Astrid Polzer, Michael Richter, Arne Vielitz. 

Publication frequency: 5 issues per year

Concept of the content:

• Each issue is devoted to a specific focus topic.
• In addition and without reference to the focus topic, each issue presents 2-3 original texts.
• plus
  - refresher for the consolidation of the contents of the focus topic (with practice questions)
  - summaries of international study results
  - professional advice concerning the daily clinical practice
  - event reports
  - book reviews
  - event calendar

MSK is archived in Thieme.connect (www.thieme.de/connect/de). Subscribers have access to full texts, non-subscribers only to the abstracts of the articles.


Writing for MSK

Original texts should be submitted to: msk@thieme.de
Submitted manuscripts are anonymised and subjected to a peer review process. After approximately 3 months the author(s) are informed whether the article will be published in manuelletherapie and if changes are necessary for publication.

On principle only articles, which have neither previously been published in Germany nor abroad are accepted. Articles must not be submitted simultaneously to other journals.

Preparation of the manuscript of original texts

• Subdivide original texts and literature studies into the following sections: abstract – key words - introduction – methods - results - discussion – conclusions – references
• While you are writing a paper ask yourself the following questions:
  - Why am I writing this paper?
  - How did I carry out this study/research work?
  - What have I observed?
  - What is my opinion about the results?
  - What are my conclusions?´
• volume: maximum 6 printed pages = 30.000 characters in Word (including blanks)
• maximum 50 references; larger reference lists are published online
• the authors receive an appropriate fee for each published article

Feature articles related to the focus topic: eligible authors are invited by the editors (invited articles).

Preparation of the manuscript of articles related to the focus topic

• The responsible editor will send you a detailed briefing about the kind, content and volume of the planned article.Structure your article as follows:
  - Separate title page containing the name of the first author with complete correspondence address, occupational and academic titles. Co-authors are also listed.
  - Instead of the classic abstract, feature articles start with a teaser to arouse the reader´s curiosity. If necessary, the editors will help you find the appropriate wording.
  - Do not use headers and footers; do not use abbreviations, which have not previously been explained within the text.
  - Try to organise your text logically! Each paragraph should contain one specific thought. In order to gain a better understanding of the text try to establish a contextual continuity between the individual paragraphs – one thought should lead to the next one.
  - Try to write as shortly and precisely as possible, try to write to the point.
  - Do not use long enumerations but try to compose a consistent text.
  - If you have any ideas for subheadings, please do not hesitate to insert them into the text.
  - Do not hesitate to make concrete proposals for additional boxes (e.g. contraindications or additional information like glossary, internet links etc.).
• You can use tables but please insert them at the correct position within the text.
• You can also add photographs and diagrams. Please do not insert them into the text but send them as separate data files. Figures must be numbered consecutively.
• Figure templates
  - photographs: electronic images as jpg. tif, eps files (image width: ca. 2400 x 3200 pixels).
  - drawings: drafts with complete indication of source or own drawings
• In order to not infringe on copyrights and personal rights related to photographs we need to have written consent of the person(s) shown in the photographs. Please send us the signed declaration of consent or confirm in writing that the person(s) shown in the photographs agree with the publication.
• Since the authors are to be presented with a picture we need a good photograph of you. For the box containing the author´s profile we also need a brief vita describing your current occupational activities (approx. 3 lines).
• The feature articles related to the focus topic have decorative pictures placed at the beginning of the article. They are part of the new layout concept of MSK. The publishing house will take care of these pictures.
• Only articles written exclusively for MSK and therefore free of rights of third parties are printed. If that is not the case, please inform the publishing house. That is the only way to respect copyrights and usage rights.
• Please send the completed manuscript by e-mail to the responsible editor by the specified deadline.

References

• references within the text as follows: (Müller 2008; Maier et al. 2008)
• references in chronological order at the end of the article
• Please quote as follows:
  - book: Bertram AM, Laube W. Sensomotorische Koordination. Stuttgart: Thieme, 2008
  - chapter from a book: Slater H. Vegetatives Nervensystem. In: Van den Berg F (Hrsg). Angewandte Physiologie III. Stuttgart: Thieme, 2007
  - article from a journal: Bove M. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) und kortikale Reorganisation. Manuelle Therapie 2008; 12: 206-215
  - internet sources please add the date the of the retrieval: e.g. www.xyz.de, retrieved on 2.1.2011

Abbreviations of the journal names follow the guidelines of World Medical Periodicals.