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Writing for Exercise Science

A helpful guide for students, faculty, and staff in Exercise Physiology.

MSSE Style Citations

For detailed information about using the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise® (MSSE®) citation style, check out this page: 

While the above Information for Authors page will be the most comprehensive resource for you, I have summarized the information for you below. 

Important Considerations:

  • In-text reference citations shall be baseline in parentheses, not superscripts (think (14, 15); not like an exponent).
  • Personal Internet Web sites, Master of Science theses, personal communications, or other unpublished material are not acceptable as references.
  • Journal abbreviations should follow the abbreviations of Index Medicus published by the Library of Congress.
  • Use of et al. in the full citations of the References page—If fewer than seven (7) authors are listed, all should be mentioned. When seven or more authors are named, list only the first three.

Journals:

  1. Journal Article
    • Blair SN, Ellsworth NM, Haskell WL, Stern MP, Farguhar JW, Wood PD. Comparison of nutrient intake in middle-aged men and women runners and controls. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1981;13(5):310–5.
  2. E-Journal Article
    • ​​Vickers AJ. Time course of muscle soreness following different types of exercise. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders [Internet]. 2001 [cited 2001 May 31];2(5). Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/2/5. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-2-5.

Conference Proceedings:

  • Matthie JR, Withers PO, Van Loan MD, Mayclin PL. Development of a commercial complex bio-impedance spectroscopic (CBIS) system for determining intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW) volumes. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Electrical Bio-impedance; 1992 Jul 28-31: Kuopio (Finland). University of Kuopio; 1992. p. 203–5.

Doctoral Dissertation:

  • Crandall C. Alterations in human baroreceptor reflex regulation of blood pressure following 15 days of simulated microgravity exposure [dissertation]. Fort Worth (TX): University of North Texas; 1993. 100 p.

Government Report:

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; 2004. 436 p. Available from: U.S. GPO, Washington.

Website home page:

  • American Heart Association Web site [Internet]. Dallas (TX): American Heart Association; [cited 2006 Jan 1]. Available from: http://www.americanheart.org.

Abstract:

An abstract can be cited when it is the only source of information.*

  • Kelley KM, Hamann JJ, Aschenbach WG, Gladden LB. Canine gastrocnemius muscle in situ: O2max [abstract]. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;28(5):S62.

*If you are in ExPh370: check with your instructor about whether or not you can cite an abstract for your assignment. 

Letter to the Editor:

  • Stöhr EJ, Balmain BN. Regarding high-intensity interval training and left ventricular mechanics [letter]. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51(11):2423.

Prereview/Preprint:*

  • Pethick J, Casselton C, Winter SL, Burnley M. Ischaemic pre-conditioning attenuates fatigue-induced loss of knee extensor torque complexity during submaximal intermittent isometric contractions [Internet]. SportRxiv; 2019. Available from: osf.io/preprints/sportrxiv/mcpjz.

*If you are in ExPh370: check with your instructor about whether or not you can cite a preprint for your assignment.