Journal profile · Neurosciences
Human Movement Science
ISSN 0167-9457 · eISSN 1872-7646 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Bimonthly · Founded 1982
Human Movement Science: CAS Zone 3 · Psychology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.91; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,620; median 168 days to acceptance (99 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 86 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Human Movement Science is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 3 of Psychology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Motor Control and Adaptation, Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention and Muscle activation and electromyography studies, together about 38.6% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The journal is devoted to pure and applied research related to the science of human movement. It provides a medium for publishing disciplinary and multidisciplinary studies on human movement. It brings together psychological, biomechanical and neurophysiological research on the control, organization and learning of human movement, including the perceptual support of movement. The journal also encourages submissions from the fields of sport and exercise science and kinesiology provided that the work expands knowledge and understanding of human movement. This can include articles that focus on performance analyses, and artificial intelligence/machine learning. The overarching goal of the journal is to publish articles that help advance theoretical understanding of the control and organization of human movement, as well as changes therein as a function of development, learning, and rehabilitation. The nature of the research reported may vary from fundamental theoretical or empirical studies to more applied studies in the fields of, for example, sport, dance and rehabilitation with the proviso that all studies have a distinct theoretical bearing. The journal is less keen on work that is descriptive in nature or that has limited generalizability outside a specific population pool or sample. Also, we consider both systematic and meta-analytical reviews of human movement. Narrative reviews are by invitation only and are generally reserved for established scholars; please contact the Editor-in-Chief or the relevant Section Editor for a discussion.These aims and scope imply that purely descriptive studies are not acceptable, while methodological articles are only acceptable if the methodology in question can have a significant impact on the development of new directions in understanding the control and organization of human movement. The same holds for articles on exercise physiology, which in general are not supported, unless they speak to the control and organization of human movement. In general, it is required that the theoretical message of articles published in Human Movement Science is, to a certain extent, innovative and not dismissible as just "more of the same."Human Movement Science will consider hypothesis-driven analyses and exploratory analyses for which the need for exploration can be motivated; the exploratory nature of any such analysis should be clearly stated. In line with its commitment to publishing methodologically sound studies, Human Movement Science now offers the possibility to publish high-powered hypothesis driven research and high-impact replications as Registered Reports. Through pre- registration of hypotheses and methodology and results-independent editorial decisions, this article type neutralizes many questionable research practices incentivised by today's publish-or-perish pressures.In addition to regular issues, special issues addressing a single theme or topic will be published. The journal has now appointed a dedicated Section Editor to focus on special issues and invited reviews. The journal will look to publish 1-2 special issues per annum. In case of special issues, the above criteria may be softened if the guest editor(s) is (are) of the opinion that this will further the insight into the theme of the special issue in question. Special issues containing articles based on papers presented at conferences and workshops or consisting of a "target article" followed by peer commentaries are also admissible.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Neurosciences
Editor-in-chief Mark WilliamsPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 3%); most named United States 20, United Kingdom 11, Netherlands 10, Germany 7, Canada 6 (72 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Motor Control and AdaptationNeuroscience18.2%
- Balance, Gait, and Falls PreventionHealth Professions10.7%
- Muscle activation and electromyography studiesEngineering9.8%
- Sports Performance and TrainingMedicine6.1%
- Action Observation and SynchronizationPsychology5.7%
- Cerebral Palsy and Movement DisordersMedicine4.9%
- Children's Physical and Motor DevelopmentPsychology4.7%
- Sport Psychology and PerformancePsychology4.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Psychology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Psychology, Experimental | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Sport Sciences | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Psychology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology, Experimental | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Sport Sciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Psychology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Neurosciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Sport Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology, Experimental | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIESSCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 1.91LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.5LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 3.5Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.54LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.04LetPub ·
- h-index
- 80LetPub ·
- h-index
- 149OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 2,144OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.01OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 0%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 35.46%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 77LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,436 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 59 | 36 | 3 |
| 2025 | 86 | 35 | 129 |
| 2024 | 106 | 69 | 373 |
| 2023 | 85 | 51 | 542 |
| 2022 | 91 | 37 | 875 |
| 2021 | 134 | 55 | 1,694 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
168 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 128 days – 233 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 7 days (99 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 183 days
- Sample
- 99 articles with submission and acceptance dates (159 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 4–8 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 77 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 174 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,620 / EUR 3,390 / GBP 2,900 / JPY 448,990 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,730 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare2 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted3
- commentaryHuman Movement Science contains: Reports of empirical work on human movement; Theoretical articles on human movement, including its modelling; Letters to the ed…Length not stated
- letters to the editorHuman Movement Science contains: Reports of empirical work on human movement; Theoretical articles on human movement, including its modelling; Letters to the ed…Length not stated
- reports of empirical work on human movementReports of empirical work on human movementLength not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1982
- ISSN
- 0167-9457
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-7646
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Human Movement Science
What CAS zone is Human Movement Science in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Human Movement Science is in Zone 3 of Psychology, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Psychology / Neurosciences / Psychology, Experimental / Sport Sciences. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Psychology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Human Movement Science?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.91; CiteScore 3.5, h-index 149.
How long does peer review take at Human Movement Science?
Based on the dates recorded on 99 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 168 days (interquartile range 128–233 days); authors report an average review time of 4–8 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Human Movement Science?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Human Movement Science based?
Of the 72 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 3%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (20), United Kingdom (11) and Netherlands (10). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Human Movement Science?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Human Movement Science is indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus.
Is Human Movement Science open access, and what is the APC?
Human Movement Science is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,620.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-24). Last updated: .