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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Hum. Neurosci.
Sec. Brain Health and Clinical Neuroscience
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1544812
Knowledge domain and trends in acupuncture for stroke research based on bibliometrics analysis
Provisionally accepted- Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
This bibliometric analysis comprehensively investigates the literature on acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation, aiming to identify key research hotspots, map the underlying knowledge structure, and examine developmental trends. The central hypothesis posits that acupuncture plays a pivotal role in enhancing neurological and motor function recovery in stroke patients, particularly when combined with complementary therapeutic modalities. A total of 2,217 relevant publications, spanning from database inception through 2024, were selected following stringent data screening and cleaning protocols. Utilizing advanced bibliometric tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer, we analyzed publication trends, leading authors, influential institutions, and citation networks. Our findings reveal a consistent and significant increase in research activity, with mainland China emerging as the predominant contributor to this field. The analysis highlights a strong emphasis on neurological recovery, motor function improvement, language rehabilitation, and the integration of acupuncture with other therapeutic strategies. Prominent keywords, including “acupuncture treatment,” “scalp acupuncture,” “electroacupuncture,” and “rehabilitation therapy,” reflect the evolving priorities within this domain. This study provides valuable evidence-based insights to guide future research in acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation, offering a solid framework for experimental investigations. By delineating the knowledge landscape, it contributes to refining research hypotheses and optimizing the clinical application of acupuncture in stroke recovery.
Keywords: Acupuncture, Stroke, bibliometrics analysis, Citespace, VOSviewer
Received: 13 Dec 2024; Accepted: 27 Feb 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Hao, Xing, Chen, Wang, Liu and Dong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Hai-xin Liu, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
Aiai Dong, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.