Global Trends and Hotspots in Ultrasound Imaging for Rehabilitation Research: A Bibliometric and Visualization...

As a non-invasive, convenient and real-time imaging tool, ultrasound has provided new imaging evidence for rehabilitation and scientific research in recent years. As the volume and scope of studies grow, analyzing the innovative applications and research trends of ultrasound in rehabilitation is essential. This study employs bibliometric methods to map global research collaboration networks in ultrasound for rehabilitation, explore research dynamics, and predict future research themes based on emerging trends.

We performed a bibliometric analysis of 8346 articles from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection (1990-2024) using CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

A total of 8346 articles were included. Annual publication volumes have a surge in the past five years. Western countries dominate research output, while institutions in China are emerging as significant contributors. Levent Ozcakar and Paul W. Hodges lead in publication volume and citation impact, respectively. Musculoskeletal ultrasound, intelligent algorithms, and skill education are key citation clusters and emergent topics. High-frequency keywords include ultrasound examination, exercise and efficacy validation emerging recently.

Ongoing research is likely to continue focusing on the reliability of ultrasound for diagnosing various diseases, musculoskeletal quantification through novel ultrasound technologies in physical therapy, and ultrasound monitoring and biofeedback in respiratory and postpartum rehabilitation. Additionally, musculoskeletal examination evidence, real-time training monitoring, and systematic review evaluation are gaining increasing attention. These emerging areas may serve as guiding themes for future research, providing a foundation for continued innovation in the application of ultrasound in rehabilitation.