Navigating the Global Landscape of Exercise Interventions for Knee Osteoarthritis: Exploring Evolving Trends and Emerging Frontiers From a Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis Perspective (2011–2022)

Abstract

Objectives

This study utilizes visual analysis methods to retrospectively examine the evolution and trends in exercise interventions for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) research from 2011 to 2022.

Design

Bibliometric and visualization analysis review.

Setting and Participants

Using the Web of Science database, the literature search range is from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2022, with the language specified as English and document type set to Article.

Methods

Visual analysis was used to analyze literature in the field of exercise interventions for KOA, with KOA and exercise interventions as the key search terms. Visualization maps for countries/regions were created using Tableau and Scimago Graphica software. Institutional, author, and keyword visualization maps were drawn using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software.

Results

In total, 3137 articles were included in the visual analysis. The United States emerged as the leading country in terms of publication volume and contribution. Moreover, developed countries such as the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Canada have established close and stable cooperative relationships. The University of Melbourne stood out as the institution with both the highest publication volume and centrality. At the forefront of research output in this field was Bennell K.L. from the University of Melbourne. The journal with the highest co-citation frequency was Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. The keyword clustering map highlighted an evolution in the field of exercise interventions for KOA, emphasizing 8 key research themes spanning knee osteoarthritis, serum cartilage, osteoarthritis initiative, patellofemoral pain, total knee arthroplasty, exercise-induced hypoalgesia, isometric exercise, and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Burst analysis revealed that older adult was the earliest and most prominent keyword, with contemporary topics such as patellofemoral pain, safety, musculoskeletal disorder, and neuromuscular exercise considered as research hotspots and future directions in this field.

Conclusions and Implications

The global attention on exercise interventions for KOA research is expanding, emphasizing the importance of strengthened connections among developing countries and collaborative author groups. Recent trends have shifted toward topics such as neuromuscular training, treatment safety, and musculoskeletal disorders, whereas research interest in patellofemoral pain remains unabated. Neuromuscular training for KOA represents the current frontier in this field. Future research should delve into the effects of diverse types of exercise interventions for KOA on neuromuscular injury and recovery, exploring feasibility and safety to formulate personalized exercise plans for patients with KOA.