Recent Trends and Expectations of Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine: Celebrating the First Impact Factor

Progressin Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) was launched in 2016 as the official journal of the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine. Table 1 presents the key milestones of PRM since 2016. Inclusion in PubMed in 2020 markedly increased the visibility of PRM, and submission numbers have risen each year since (Fig. 1). The inclusion of PRM in the Emerging Sources Citation Index in 2022 further validated the journal’s trajectory, and the first Journal Impact Factor of 1.5, awarded in 2025, marks an important milestone—both a recognition of past progress and a foundation for future growth. In 2024, the average time from submission to first decision was 38 days, that from submission to final decision was 67 days, and that from acceptance to online publication was 16 days (Table 2). This efficiency reflects a well-coordinated editorial office and a dedicated team of reviewers committed to timely dissemination without compromising methodological rigor.

Table 1. Milestones of Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine

Year	Milestone
2020	PubMed indexing Inclusion in PubMed markedly expanded PRM’s visibility, providing researchers worldwide with immediate access to abstracts and full-text articles.
2022	Inclusion in the Emerging Sources Citation Index This recognition affirmed PRM’s compliance with key publishing standards and laid the foundation for future citation growth.
2025	First Journal Impact Factor (1.5) Receiving an impact factor marks a significant milestone that validates PRM’s increasing influence.

Fig. 1.

Timeline data for number of submissions to Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine and number of publications.

Table 2. Times from submission to publication for Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine in 2024

Interval	Average time
From submission to first decision	37.8 days
From submission to final decision	66.7 days
From acceptance to online publication	16.1 days

Under the leadership of successive editors, PRM has continuously improved its peer-review process and expanded its scientific reach. The primary aim of PRM is to disseminate rigorous basic and clinical rehabilitation research originating from the Asia-Pacific region, with particular emphasis on countries experiencing advanced societal aging. PRM highlights the unique influences of cultural, social, and economic contexts on rehabilitation practice and outcomes, thereby providing valuable insights for both regional and global readerships. Through this approach, PRM will strive to establish a platform for reciprocal exchange, actively facilitating the contribution of regional knowledge to the international advancement of rehabilitation medicine and enhancing regional clinical practices through ongoing exposure to global perspectives.

Furthermore, PRM continues to waive article processing charges, eliminating financial barriers that can deter early-career investigators and research teams working with limited resources. Free and immediate online access to full-text articles has broadened the readership of PRM well beyond Japan, driving growth in citations and fostering new international collaborations. We warmly invite continued submissions of high-quality, scientifically rigorous research with clear clinical relevance from researchers worldwide, thereby facilitating significant advances in the global field of rehabilitation medicine.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author sincerely thanks the members of the editorial board for their continued efforts.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The author declares no conflict of interest.