Journal profile · Engineering, Biomedical
Journal of Biomechanics
ISSN 0021-9290 · eISSN 1873-2380 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Monthly · Founded 1968
Journal of Biomechanics: CAS Zone 3 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.87; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,650; median 131 days to acceptance (117 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 551 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Biomechanics is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 3 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Muscle activation and electromyography studies, Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies and Orthopaedic implants and arthroplasty, together about 24% of its articles. Its main subfields are Biomedical Engineering and Surgery. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Biomechanics publishes reports of original and substantial findings using the principles of mechanics to explore biological problems. Analytical, as well as experimental papers may be submitted, and the journal accepts original articles, surveys and perspective articles (usually by Editorial invitation only), book reviews and letters to the Editor. The criteria for acceptance of manuscripts include excellence, novelty, significance, clarity, conciseness and interest to the readership.The Journal does not consider simultaneous submissions of manuscripts in multiple parts or series. Authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts as independent, stand-alone manuscripts or consider submitting them sequentially, waiting for the outcome of the first submission before proceeding with the second one.Papers published in the journal may cover a wide range of topics in biomechanics, including, but not limited to:Fundamental Topics - Biomechanics of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, mechanics of hard and soft tissues, biofluid mechanics, mechanics of prostheses and implant-tissue interfaces, mechanics of cells.Cardiovascular and Respiratory Biomechanics - Mechanics of blood-flow, air-flow, mechanics of the soft tissues, flow-tissue or flow-prosthesis interactions.Cell Biomechanics - Biomechanic analyses of cells, membranes and sub-cellular structures; the relationship of the mechanical environment to cell and tissue response.Dental Biomechanics - Design and analysis of dental tissues and prostheses, mechanics of chewing.Functional Tissue Engineering - The role of biomechanical factors in engineered tissue replacements and regenerative medicine.Injury Biomechanics - Mechanics of impact and trauma, dynamics of man-machine interaction.Molecular Biomechanics - Mechanical analyses of biomolecules.Orthopedic Biomechanics - Mechanics of fracture and fracture fixation, mechanics of implants and implant fixation, mechanics of bones and joints, wear of natural and artificial joints.Rehabilitation Biomechanics - Analyses of gait, mechanics of prosthetics and orthotics.Sports Biomechanics - Mechanical analyses of sports performance.Journal of Biomechanics is affiliated to the American Society of Biomechanics, the International Society of Biomechanics, the European Society of Biomechanics, the Japanese Society for Clinical Biomechanics, the Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics, and the Societe de Biomecanique .
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Engineering, Biomedical
Editor-in-chief Frank GijsenPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 9 in mainland China (about 4%); most named United States 103, Italy 14, Canada 13, Australia 12, United Kingdom 11 (201 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Muscle activation and electromyography studiesEngineering9.9%
- Lower Extremity Biomechanics and PathologiesEngineering7.7%
- Orthopaedic implants and arthroplastyMedicine6.4%
- Balance, Gait, and Falls PreventionHealth Professions5.7%
- Sports Performance and TrainingMedicine5.6%
- Total Knee Arthroplasty OutcomesMedicine5.5%
- Elasticity and Material ModelingEngineering4.7%
- Sports injuries and preventionMedicine4.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biophysics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Biomedical | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biophysics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Biomedical | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biophysics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Biomedical | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
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
- 2.87LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 2.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4.3LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 4.3Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.72LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.22LetPub ·
- h-index
- 177LetPub ·
- h-index
- 327OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 11,212OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.84OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 13.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 37.85%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 501LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 24,572 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 358 | 199 | 67 |
| 2025 | 551 | 330 | 1,215 |
| 2024 | 446 | 288 | 2,572 |
| 2023 | 378 | 216 | 3,673 |
| 2022 | 356 | 182 | 4,104 |
| 2021 | 571 | 279 | 9,876 |
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
131 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 109 days – 163 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 1 days (117 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 134 days
- Sample
- 117 articles with submission and acceptance dates (1,024 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)
- 2–4 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 58 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 135 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 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 3,650 / EUR 3,410 / GBP 2,920 / JPY 452,710 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,510 | — | — |
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 papers2, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 1
- Reference style
- APA
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted11, with length limits
- book reviewices, or points of historical interest. Book Reviews Normally no longer than 1000 words (by invitation from the Book Review Editor only). Letters tmain text ≤ 1,000 words
- book reviewsNormally no longer than 1000 words (by invitation from the Book Review Editor only).Length not stated
- letters to the editortion from the Book Review Editor only). Letters to the Editor Normally no longer than 1000 words. Note All of the above word limit is for the manuscript texmain text ≤ 1,000 words
- original articlerial Office via email JBM@elsevier.com. Original Articles Up to 3500 words (3500 words approximately equals the content of 14 double-smain text ≤ 3,500 words · figures and tables ≤ 10
- original articlesUp to 3500 words (3500 words approximately equals the content of 14 double-spaced manuscript pages with additional space for 8 to 10 figures or tables), althoug…Length not stated
- perspectiveed or otherwise emphasised in the text. Perspective Articles Typically in the range of 3000 words. These manuscripts will explore controversial yet importantmain text ≤ 3,000 words
- perspective articlesTypically in the range of 3000 words. These manuscripts will explore controversial yet important themes, allowing expression of particular views or speculations…Length not stated
- reviewe . Journal announcements Article types Reviews Normally 4000 to 6000 words (by invitation from the Editor only). Please note that a prmain text ≤ 6,000 words
- reviewsNormally 4000 to 6000 words (by invitation from the Editor only).Length not stated
- short communication, such articles are by invitation only. Short Communications Up to 2000 words, reporting preliminary observations, new interpretations ofmain text ≤ 2,000 words
- short communicationsUp to 2000 words, reporting preliminary observations, new interpretations of old data, simple new techniques or devices, or points of historical interest.Length 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 Authorship
By adhering to the authorship requirements stated above, authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria [updated version January 2024] on authorship.
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 Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1968
- ISSN
- 0021-9290
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-2380
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Biomechanics
What CAS zone is Journal of Biomechanics in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Biomechanics is in Zone 3 of Medicine, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Biophysics / Engineering, Biomedical. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Biomechanics?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.87; CiteScore 4.3, h-index 327.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Biomechanics?
Based on the dates recorded on 117 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 131 days (interquartile range 109–163 days); authors report an average review time of 2–4 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly 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 Journal of Biomechanics?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 1; Reference style: APA; Graphical abstract: Optional. 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 Journal of Biomechanics based?
Of the 201 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 9 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (103), Italy (14) and Canada (13). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Biomechanics?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Biomechanics is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Journal of Biomechanics open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Biomechanics is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,650.
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 2026-08-26). Last updated: .