Scientific advances in post-exercise hypotension: a bibliometric review

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) is a blood pressure decrease after exercise.
• PEH is recognized as a non-pharmacological approach for hypertension management.
• Research on PEH has significantly increased, particularly in the last decade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map scientific advancements and research trends in post-exercise hypotension (PEH).
• To identify key research topics, influential authors, and leading institutions in PEH.
• To analyze the evolution and current state of PEH research globally.

Main Methods:

• A bibliometric review of 440 publications on PEH from 1985-2024 was conducted.
• Data was sourced from the Scopus database.
• VOSviewer™ and Gephi™ software were used for metadata analysis and network construction.

Main Results:

• Publication trends show a significant increase in PEH research over the last decade.
• Brazil and the United States are leading countries in PEH research output.
• High-intensity interval training, isometric resistance exercise, and nutritional interventions are prominent research areas.

Conclusions:

• Exercise intensity, recovery posture, and dietary strategies influence PEH.
• Autonomic and vascular factors are key physiological mechanisms underlying PEH.
• Gaps exist in standardized methodologies, biomarker use, and multimodal intervention research for clinical translation.