Rehabilitation of motor function after stroke: A bibliometric analysis of global research from 2004 to 2022

Abstract

Background and aimsThe mortality rate of stroke has been increasing worldwide. Poststroke somatic dysfunctions are common. Motor function rehabilitation of patients with such somatic dysfunctions enhances the quality of life and has long been the primary practice to achieve functional recovery. In this regard, we aimed to delineate the new trends and frontiers in stroke motor function rehabilitation literature published from 2004 to 2022 using a bibliometric software.MethodsAll documents related to stroke rehabilitation and published from 2004 to 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Publication output, research categories, countries/institutions, authors/cocited authors, journals/cocited journals, cocited references, and keywords were assessed using VOSviewer v.1.6.15.0 and CiteSpace version 5.8. The cocitation map was plotted according to the analysis results to intuitively observe the research hotspots.ResultsOverall, 3,302 articles were retrieved from 78 countries or regions and 564 institutions. Over time, the publication outputs increased annually. In terms of national contribution, the United States published the most papers, followed by China, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. Yeungnam University had the most articles among all institutions, followed by Emory University, Fudan University, and National Taiwan University. Jang Sung Ho and Wolf S.L. were the most productive (56 published articles) and influential (cited 1,121 times) authors, respectively. “Effect of constraint-induced movement therapy on upper extremity function 3–9 months after stroke: the Extremity Constraint Induced Therapy Evaluation randomized clinical trial” was the most frequently cited reference. Analysis of keywords showed that upper limbs, Fugl–Meyer assessment, electromyography, virtual reality, telerehabilitation, exoskeleton, and brain–computer interface were the research development trends and focus areas for this topic.ConclusionPublications regarding motor function rehabilitation following stroke are likely to continuously increase. Research on virtual reality, telemedicine, electroacupuncture, the brain–computer interface, and rehabilitation robots has attracted increasing attention, with these topics becoming the hotspots of present research and the trends of future research.

Virtual reality-induced motor function of the upper extremity and brain activation in stroke: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Extensive studies have been published demonstrating the effectiveness of VR training and related therapies in enhancing upper motor function, with combination therapy appearing to be more beneficial ( 32 , 33 ). Furthermore, they continue to have a limited scope, focusing just on the effectiveness without delving into the process.…”

Effects of Upper Limb Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation Compared with Conventional Therapy in Patients with Stroke: Preliminary Results on a Daily Task Assessed Using Motion Analysis

“…Paresis, loss of dexterity and coordinated movements, abnormal muscle tone, and reduced sensation are the biggest contributors to the loss of upper limb function after stroke [ 4 , 5 ]. In addressing the concerns of such patients, motor function is the major evaluative metric and the most pressing issue [ 6 ]. Improving the motor function in patients is essential for enhancing their quality of life, lowering social and economic costs, and reducing the incidence of impairment.…”

“…Improving the motor function in patients is essential for enhancing their quality of life, lowering social and economic costs, and reducing the incidence of impairment. With this aim, after a stroke, rehabilitation treatment is routinely utilized [ 6 ].…”

Characteristics and Emerging Trends in Research on Rehabilitation Robots from 2001 to 2020: Bibliometric Study

“…Based on co-occurrence and co-citation networks, burst keywords and clustering of similar research topics were used to identify and understand exercise interventions for stroke between 2001 and 2021. A more recent study used bibliometric analysis to predict that novel technologies, such as virtual reality, robotic interfaces, and brain-computer interfaces, will remain hotspots in rehabilitation treatment in the coming years [ 29 ]. A report describing relationships within the scientific literature on the application of virtual and augmented reality in medicine revealed the high potential and diversity of applications of virtual reality in stroke rehabilitation [ 30 ].…”