Mapping the Landscape of Biomechanics Research in Stroke Neurorehabilitation: A Bibliometric Perspective

Background/Objectives: The incorporation of biomechanics into stroke neurorehabilitation may serve to strengthen the effectiveness of rehabilitation strategies by increasing our understanding of human movement and recovery processes. The present bibliometric analysis of biomechanics research in stroke neurorehabilitation is conducted with the objectives of identifying influential studies, key trends, and emerging research areas that would inform future research and clinical practice. Methods: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was performed using documents retrieved from the Scopus database on 6 August 2024. The analysis included performance metrics such as publication counts and citation analysis, as well as science mapping techniques, including co-authorship, bibliographic coupling, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence analyses. Data visualization tools such as VOSviewer and Power BI were utilized to map the bibliometric networks and trends. Results: An overabundance of recent work has yielded substantial advancements in the application of brain–computer interfaces to electroencephalography and functional neuroimaging during stroke neurorehabilitation., which translate neural activity into control signals for external devices and provide critical insights into the biomechanics of motor recovery by enabling precise tracking and feedback of movement during rehabilitation. A sampling of the most impactful contributors and influential publications identified two leading countries of contribution: the United States and China. Three prominent research topic clusters were also noted: biomechanical evaluation and movement analysis, neurorehabilitation and robotics, and motor recovery and functional rehabilitation. Conclusions: The findings underscore the growing integration of advanced technologies such as robotics, neuroimaging, and virtual reality into neurorehabilitation practices. These innovations are poised to enhance the precision and effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Future research should focus on the long-term impacts of these technologies and the development of accessible, cost-effective tools for clinical use. The integration of multidisciplinary approaches will be crucial in optimizing patient outcomes and improving the quality of life for stroke survivors.