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Mapping Research on Virtual Reality for Balance, Coordination, and Motor Rehabilitation: A Bibliometric Analysis with
Hongfei Zhang1, Wenjun Hu1, Qing Zhang1
1Department of Health and Life Sciences, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdańsk, Poland.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 4, 2026
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) in rehabilitation is evolving beyond basic use. Bibliometric analysis reveals distinct research themes in balance, coordination, and motor recovery, guiding future evidence synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Digital Health
- Bibliometrics
Background:
- Virtual reality (VR) is a growing digital tool for rehabilitation, aiding balance, coordination, and motor recovery.
- Existing literature is fragmented across various applications, hindering understanding of research evolution and focus shifts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the research landscape and thematic evolution of VR for balance, coordination, and motor rehabilitation.
- To identify key themes and their temporal dynamics using bibliometric analysis and topic modeling.
Main Methods:
- Bibliometric analysis of 1258 articles (2011-2025) from Web of Science Core Collection.
- Keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and temporal trends analyzed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer.
- Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) used for theme identification and temporal dynamics.
Main Results:
- The field has diversified from early feasibility studies into distinct clinical targets and populations.
- Seven recurring themes identified: vestibular rehabilitation, post-stroke recovery, efficacy assessment, balance/gait training, evidence synthesis, elderly interventions, and skill-oriented training.
- Recent expansion noted in broader populations and non-traditional rehabilitation applications.
Conclusions:
- VR research in rehabilitation is now a thematically differentiated field, not a single domain.
- This study clarifies research concentration and emerging directions for future evidence synthesis and intervention reporting.
