Back to Search Start Over

Mapping the field of physical therapy and identification of the leading active producers. A bibliometric analysis of the period 2000- 2018.

Authors :
Carballo-Costa, Lidia
Quintela-Del-Río, Alejandro
Vivas-Costa, Jamile
Costas, Rodrigo
Source :
Physiotherapy Theory & Practice; Nov2023, Vol. 39 Issue 11, p2407-2419, 13p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

The objectives of the study were: 1) Describe the thematic structure and evolution of the field of physical therapy; 2) identify the main research producers (i.e. countries and institutions); and 3) compare their research output and citation impact. Papers related to physical therapy indexed in Web of Science (2000–2018) were identified to delineate the field, using keywords, journals, and citation networks. VOSviewer software, advanced bibliometric text mining, and visualization techniques were used to evaluate the thematic structure. We collected data about the country and institutional affiliation of all the authors and calculated production and citation impact indicators. 85,697 papers were analyzed. Eleven thematic clusters were identified: 1) "health care and education"; 2) "biomechanics"; 3) "psychosocial, chronic pain and quality of life outcomes"; 4) "evidence-based physical therapy research methods"; 5) "traumatology and orthopedics"; 6) "neurological rehabilitation"; 7) "psychometrics and cross-cultural adaptation"; 8) "gait-balance analysis and Parkinson's disease"; 9) "exercise"; 10) "respiratory physical therapy"; and 11) "back pain." The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia were the most productive countries. Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden had the highest citation impact. Our bibliometric visualization approach makes it possible to comprehensively study the thematic structure of physical therapy. The ranking of producers has evolved and now includes China and Brazil. High research production does not imply a high citation impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09593985
Volume :
39
Issue :
11
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Physiotherapy Theory & Practice
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
172805612
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2022.2073927