Global Trends and Research Hotspots of Exercise for Intervening Diabetes: A Bibliometric Analysis

Zhijie Zhang; Yuanchun Zhu; Qingfeng Wang; Tiantian Chang; Chunlong Liu; Yi Zhu; Xueqiang Wang; Xiangyang Cao

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.902825

Global Trends and Research Hotspots of Exercise for Intervening Diabetes: A Bibliometric Analysis

Front Public Health. 2022 Jul 7:10:902825. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.902825. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Zhijie Zhang¹, Yuanchun Zhu², Qingfeng Wang¹, Tiantian Chang², Chunlong Liu³, Yi Zhu⁴, Xueqiang Wang², Xiangyang Cao¹

Affiliations

¹ Rehabilitation Therapy Center, Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province, Luoyang, China.
² Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
³ Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Musculoskeletal Pain Rehabilitation, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia that often occurs in adults. Many studies have indicated that exercise is beneficial to the medical management of diabetes. Bibliometric analysis can help investigators to identify the current research concerns to guide future research directions. Nevertheless, the overview bibliometric analysis of this global research topic related to exercise and diabetes is lacking. The present bibliometric study aimed to investigate development trends and research hotspots of exercise and diabetes research and provide researchers with new perspectives in further studies.

Materials and methods: The articles and reviews regarding exercise and diabetes between 2000 and 2020 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. The scientometrics analytical tool CiteSpace software was used to analyze the cooperation among countries/institutions/journals/authors, analysis of co-occurrence keywords, keywords bursts, and references.

Results: In all, 3,029 peer-reviewed papers were found with a persistently increased tendency over time. The most prolific country and institution were the USA (965) and Univ Alberta (76), respectively. Diabetes Care published most papers (178) and was the most co-cited journal (2,630). Riddell MC had the most publications (53), and Sigal RJ was the most influential author (503 cited times). Colberg et al.'s paper (co-citation counts: 183) showed the strongest citation bursts by the end of 2020, which was the most representative reference. The four research focuses were mellitus, exercise, physical activity, and glycemic control. The two frontiers trends were sedentary behavior and stress. The combination of aerobic and resistance training can effectively improve glycemic control, decrease HbA1c levels, enhance cardiorespiratory fitness, improve lipid levels, and decrease the demand for non-insulin antihyperglycemic agents.

Conclusions: This study offers a scientific perspective on exercise and diabetes research and provides investigators with valuable information to detect the current research condition, hotspots, and emerging trends for further study.

Keywords: CiteSpace; bibliometric analysis; diabetes; exercise; research hotspots.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bibliometrics*
Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Diabetes Mellitus* / therapy
Exercise*
Glycated Hemoglobin
Glycemic Control
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
Sedentary Behavior

Substances

Glycated Hemoglobin A
Hypoglycemic Agents
hemoglobin A1c protein, human