Emerging Trends and Research Frontiers in Sports Injury Prevention: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract.

Sports participation continues to rise globally, accompanied by a substantial burden of preventable injuries that affect physical health, mental well-being, and healthcare costs. While injury prevention has become a recognized public health priority, the global structure and evolution of research in this field have not been comprehensively characterized.

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science database to identify publications related to sports injury prevention. Articles indexed under the topic search terms "injury prevention" AND "sport" were included without restriction on document type. Bibliographic data were analyzed using VOSviewer to assess co-authorship networks, journal distribution, and collaboration patterns. Microsoft Excel was used to evaluate publication trends over time and geographic contributions.

A total of 10,070 publications published between 1965 and 2025 were identified, with 94.8% written in English. Over 40% of all publications were published within the last five years, demonstrating rapid growth in the field. The United States accounted for the highest proportion of publications (32.9%), followed by Australia, England, and Canada. The British Journal of Sports Medicine was the most prolific journal. Prominent author collaboration networks were observed, with a small number of researchers demonstrating disproportionately high connectivity.

Research on sports injury prevention has expanded exponentially, driven largely by high-income countries and concentrated author networks. Despite this growth, disparities in global representation and challenges in translating research into widespread prevention programs persist. Future efforts should emphasize inclusive global collaboration and real-world implementation of injury prevention strategies.