What a thrill it is to launch this new chapter for the Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy. I have big shoes to fill following the footsteps of Nancy Donovan, the previous Editor-in-Chief, and Diane Borello-France, the Senior Editor. I am deeply indebted to them for their kind mentorship and will strive to uphold the high standards they set forth for the journal.
I am privileged to be working with an amazing group of individuals who are dedicated to excellence, endeavoring to bring you innovative evidence in support of your clinical practice. Joining me as associate editors are Karen Abraham, Becca Reisch, Pat Nelson, and Tracy Spitznagle. I am in awe of their tremendous research and clinical expertise. You will appreciate their guidance in the process of sharing your knowledge through publication. Rebecca Stephenson, noted medical writer, assists as our new book editor, and Mark Bishop joins us as the journal's statistician. I am honored that the renowned researchers, Meryl Allapattu and Jill Boissonnault, are serving as ambassadors for the journal as members of our newly created Editorial Advisory Board. I am proud to be part of this great team. We are excited to work together to bring you this new phase of the journal.
In this year, the 40th anniversary of the Section on Women's Health, we look back to see how far the section has grown from our beginning as the Section on Obstetrics and Gynecology. Appropriately, as the journal reflects on its ability to facilitate the mission and focus of the section, we are pleased to present a content analysis of manuscripts published in the Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy from 2005 to 2015. This issue continues with 3 valuable topics reflecting the scope of current clinical practice: Evidence supporting lymphedema reduction from resistance exercise coupled with complete decongestive therapy. Quality-of-life improvements from surface electromyography biofeedback with pelvic floor muscle training in an individual with urinary incontinence. Urinary urgency is placed in the larger framework of movement systems disorders of the hips and spine, and the authors encourage that evaluating urinary urgency become part of movement testing. Finally, in a fitting tribute to the section's progress, we publish the section's first Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pelvic Girdle Pain in the Antepartum Population. These guidelines represent culmination of the collaborative effort of many of the section's scholars creating standards for clinical practice.
On a personal note, research has always been near and dear to my heart. I find it exciting to use so many different aspects of your skills to bring forth new information. So I leave you with the words of Margaret Fuller (1810-1850), the 19th-century teacher, editor, journalist, and women's rights advocate: "If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it."
-Cynthia M. Chiarello, PT, PhD
Editor-in-Chief