Scientific Frontiers and Emerging Themes in Acupuncture for Stroke: A Bibliometric Analysis

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide, and acupuncture is widely used as a complementary therapy in stroke rehabilitation. However, the rapidly expanding and heterogeneous literature lacks systematic knowledge structure analysis and identification of emerging frontiers. This study retrieved publications related to acupuncture for stroke from the Web of Science Core Collection published from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2025, and applied bibliometric tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica to visualize publication output, collaboration networks (countries, institutions, authors), co-citation patterns, journal dual-map overlays, and keyword bursts, with the aim of delineating research hotspots and developmental trends. The results show a steady increase in annual publication output, with China, the United States, and South Korea being the most productive countries. Core research teams have been established, but cross-regional cooperation still requires strengthening. Co-citation analysis revealed classic clusters focusing on neuroplasticity, inflammatory regulation, and mechanisms of electroacupuncture. Keyword burst detection indicates that early studies centered on motor recovery and acupuncture techniques, whereas recent frontiers have shifted towards "neuroprotection", "oxidative stress", "default mode network", and "neurorehabilitation guidelines". Research hotspots are shifting from purely evaluating clinical efficacy toward multimodal mechanistic exploration and integration with evidence-based recommendations. In conclusion, the field of acupuncture for stroke is in a phase of rapid development, with the research focus shifting from basic efficacy validation to deeper mechanistic understanding and interdisciplinary integration. The knowledge maps provided in this study can help researchers quickly identify frontiers and inform future clinical trial design and guideline development.