Origin of SJRM and comparison of content vs JRM
different patient groups. During this period the use of
physical exercise and training was being introduced as
a treatment tool in various fields of medicine. This was
also in line with Olle Höök’s professional and private
interest in physical exercise. A review of these articles
will be presented in a subsequent paper (11). Finally,
the third volume also presented articles from the doc-
toral thesis of Axel Fugl-Meyer (12), the first person
to receive a doctorate from the Department of Medical
Rehabilitation in Göteborg. These articles will also be
reviewed a subsequent paper in the present issue (11).
In the fourth volume, from 1972, issues 1–3 publis-
hed articles from an International symposium on head
injury held in Göteborg, Sweden in 1971 (13). That
symposium was organized by World Federation of
Neurology’s Problem Commission of Physical Medi-
cine and Rehabilitation, and chaired by Olle Höök. In
issue 4 Professor A. E. Walker from Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine published a summary
and conclusions from the symposium (14).
FROM A SCANDINAVIAN TO AN
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
The proportion of contributions from different countri-
es and regions of the world have changed markedly
since the first volumes of the journal to the present
day (Table I). Initially, there was a predominance
of articles from Scandinavian countries, especially
Sweden; although the USA was also relatively well
represented. This may, to a large extent, have depended
on Olle Höök’s contacts and the various congresses
and symposia invited to publish articles.
Table I. Country of origin of first authors in the first 4 volumes
(1969–1972) of Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
(8 most common countries) and the 2 most recent volumes
(2017–2018) of Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine (11 most
common countries)
Country of origin of first authors
1969–1972
Sweden
USA
Denmark
Finland
Germany
UK
Israel
Japan
2017–2018
Sweden
The Netherlands
China
Australia
USA
Canada
Germany
Denmark
Japan
Switzerland
South Korea
50 years
JRM
1969–2019
%
57
12
6
5
3
3
2
2
16
14
8
7
7
5
4
4
4
3
3
819
Table I presents a comparison of the most common
countries of origin for the first authors of articles in the
initial 4 issues of SJRM and the most recent 2 issues
of JRM. Whereas Sweden was the home country for
57% of first authors in 1969–1972, the corresponding
percentage was 16% in the most recent volumes in
2017–2018. In the first 4 volumes Sweden, USA, Den-
mark and Finland were the most common countries of
origin, whereas Sweden was still the most common in
2017–2018, but at a much lower rate, followed by the
Netherlands, China, Australia and the USA, demon-
strating that there is now a worldwide contribution of
articles to the journal.
DISTRIBUTION OF TOPICS OVER TIME
The topics covered by the articles in the first 4 volumes
of SJRM have some similarities with those in the most
recent 2 volumes, but also some notable differences
(Table II). Although articles related to neurological con-
ditions were common at both times, articles on stroke
rehabilitation were less common in the early volumes
than at present. On the other hand, in the early volumes,
articles on cardiac rehabilitation occurred more often
than in the recent volumes. In addition to the potential
change in interest in rehabilitation medicine research
at different time-points, the reasons for these diffe-
rences may be the higher proportion of international
contributions to JRM than to SJRM, the recruitment
of articles on specific topics from various congresses,
and specific theme issues. Articles with more general
content, on rehabilitation issues and methodology, were
more common in the first 4 volumes of SJRM than in
the most recent 2 volumes of JRM.
OVERVIEW OF CONTENT
A general impression is that the first 4 volumes of
SJRM, published in 1969–1972, were characterized to
a large extent by articles from scientific meetings and
Table II. Percentage distribution of topics for articles in the first 4
volumes (1969–1972) of the Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation
Medicine and the most recent 2 volumes (2017–2018) of the Journal
of Rehabilitation Medicine
Article topics 1969–1972 2017–2018
Stroke
Other brain injuries
Spinal cord lesions
Neuromuscular diseases
Musculoskeletal conditions
Cardiac diseases
Other conditions, methodological and ”general”
articles 6
24
11
2
16
11
31
25
16
10
6
22
2
20
Articles from a symposium on cardiac rehabilitation were published in 1970
and from a symposium on head injuries in 1972. A special issue on scaling up
rehabilitation as a worldwide health strategy in the 21 st century, published in
2018, contributed a number of ”general” articles during 2017–2018.
J Rehabil Med 51, 2019