A bibliometric analysis study of blood flow restriction using CiteSpace

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Physiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Blood flow restriction (BFR) is an increasingly utilized training method.
• Understanding global trends in BFR research is crucial for advancing the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of global Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) research from 1999-2020.
• To identify prevailing trends, key contributors, and emerging frontiers in BFR.
• To provide insights for future BFR research and collaborations.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 775 references from 1999-2020 using Web of Science and CiteSpace.
• Analysis of publication output, countries, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords.
• Examination of publication counts and centrality to identify core topics and frontiers.

Main Results:

• A continuous increase in BFR publications over the 20-year period was observed.
• Key research groups include Japanese scholars from the University of Tokyo, with Takashi Abe as a representative.
• Jeremy Paul Loenneke's article was the most cited reference. Identified topics include intensity resistance exercise (IRE), ischemia, muscular function, adaptation, and increase.
• Frontier topics include phosphorylation, reduction, low-intensity exercise, and arterial occlusion.

Conclusions:

• The study offers a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in BFR research.
• Identifies key researchers, institutions, and influential publications in the field.
• Provides valuable information for researchers to identify new perspectives and potential collaborations in BFR research.