Sports for persons with disabilities: A bibliometric analysis of research landscape and future directions

Research on sports for persons with disabilities (PWDs) has grown significantly in recent years, particularly in parasports, disability sports, and adapted sports. Numerous studies have consistently highlighted the role of sports as a powerful tool for promoting social integration, enhancing psychological well-being, and improving the physical health of PWDs. However, comprehensive reviews on the development and progression of this field remain limited. Analysing relevant papers in the past and outlining the research's depth, hotspots, and future directions are essential. This study aims to use bibliometric techniques to quantitatively evaluate the publications published in sports for PWDs to provide new perspectives for further research. A total of 1979 publications indexed in the Scopus database, covering the period from 1971 to January 2025, were analyzed in this study. The study reveals key research areas in sports for PWDs and recommends that future studies focus on these areas. The findings of the study provide valuable insights for academic institutions, governmental bodies, and funding organizations, fostering collaboration and aiding in the formulation of policies for PWDs. Future studies could benefit from applying sophisticated methodologies, comprehensive datasets, and an expanded array of keywords.