Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rehabilitation using virtual reality technology: a bibliometric analysis, 1996–2015

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study is to conduct a retrospective bibliometric analysis of articles about rehabilitation medicine using virtual reality technology. Bibliometrics is one subfield of scientometric. It is an effective tool for evaluating research trends in different science fields. A systematic bibliometric search was performed using three academic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2015. Research outputs, countries, institutions, authors, major journals, cited articles, subject area and hot research topics were analyzed to base on bibliometrics methodologies. The retrieval of results was analyzed and described in the form of texts, tables, and graphics. Total of 15,191 articles were identified from three academic databases; and from them 48.32 % published as original articles. The articles were originated from 101 countries and territories. United States was ranked first with 4522 articles, and United Kingdom was on second with 1369 articles. 96.75 % of the articles are published in English. 527 articles were published by the Lecture Notes In Computer Science Including Subseries Lecture Notes In Artificial Intelligence And Lecture Notes In Bioinformatics. With regard of the research institutions, Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich published 208 articles ranked first. In the past 20 years, the research outcome of rehabilitation using virtual reality technology research has increased substantially. This study provides a valuable reference for researchers to understand the overview and present situations in this field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

References

  • Adler, M. D., & Johnson, K. B. (2000). Quantifying the literature of computer-aided instruction in medical education. Academic Medicine, 75(10), 1025–1028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albert, S., & Kesselring, J. (2012). Neurorehabilitation of stroke. Journal of Neurology, 259(5), 817–832. doi:10.1007/s00415-011-6247-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arya, K. N., Pandian, S., Verma, R., & Garg, R. K. (2011). Movement therapy induced neural reorganization and motor recovery in stroke: A review. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 15(4), 528–537. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2011.01.023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brien, M., & Sveistrup, H. (2011). An intensive virtual reality program improves functional balance and mobility of adolescents with cerebral palsy. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 23(3), 258–266. doi:10.1097/PEP.0b013e318227ca0f.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camporesi, C., Kallmann, M., & Han, J. J. (2013). VR solutions for improving physical therapy. In Virtual reality (VR), 2013 IEEE, 2013 (pp. 77–78)

  • Canas-Guerrero, I., Mazarron, F. R., Pou-Merina, A., Calleja-Perucho, C., & Diaz-Rubio, G. (2013). Bibliometric analysis of research activity in the “Agronomy” category from the Web of Science, 1997–2011. European Journal of Agronomy, 50, 19–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chabowski, B. R., Samiee, S., & Hult, G. T. M. (2013). A bibliometric analysis of the global branding literature and a research agenda. Journal of International Business Studies, 44(6), 622–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, W.-T., & Ho, Y.-S. (2007). Bibliometric analysis of tsunami research. Scientometrics, 73(1), 3–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clem, K., & Friedland, D. (1999). Guide to physical therapist practice.

  • Dimyan, M. A., & Cohen, L. G. (2011). Neuroplasticity in the context of motor rehabilitation after stroke. Nature Reviews Neurology, 7(2), 76–85. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2010.200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, G., Pérez-Llantada, C., & Plo, R. (2011). English as an international language of scientific publication: A study of attitudes. World Englishes, 30(1), 41–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, H.-Z., Wang, M.-H., & Ho, Y.-S. (2013). Mapping of drinking water research: A bibliometric analysis of research output during 1992–2011. Science of the Total Environment, 443, 757–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W., Schubert, A., & Czerwon, H.-J. (1999). A bibliometric analysis of international scientific cooperation of the European Union (1985–1995). Scientometrics, 45(2), 185–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J., & Ma, N. (2004). A comparative study of research performance in computer science. Scientometrics, 61(3), 339–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, Y.-S., Satoh, H., & Lin, S.-Y. (2010). Japanese lung cancer research trends and performance in Science Citation Index. Internal Medicine, 49(20), 2219–2228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh, W.-H., Chiu, W.-T., Lee, Y.-S., & Ho, Y.-S. (2004). Bibliometric analysis of patent ductus arteriosus treatments. Scientometrics, 60(2), 105–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwakkel, G., Kollen, B. J., van der Grond, J., & Prevo, A. J. H. (2003). Probability of regaining dexterity in the flaccid upper limb—Impact of severity of paresis and time since onset in acute stroke. Stroke, 34(9), 2181–2186. doi:10.1161/01.str.0000087172.16305.cd.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., Wang, M.-H., & Ho, Y.-S. (2011). Trends in research on global climate change: A science citation index expanded-based analysis. Global and Planetary Change, 77(1), 13–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lv, P. H., Wang, G.-F., Wan, Y., Liu, J., Liu, Q., & Ma, F.-C. (2011). Bibliometric trend analysis on global graphene research. Scientometrics, 88(2), 399–419. doi:10.1007/s11192-011-0386-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matijević, V., Secić, A., Masić, V., Sunić, M., Kolak, Z., & Znika, M. (2013). Virtual reality in rehabilitation and therapy. Acta Clinica Croatica, 52(4), 453–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michalopoulos, A., & Falagas, M. E. (2005). A bibliometric analysis of global research production in respiratory medicine. Chest, 128(6), 3993–3998. doi:10.1378/chest.128.6.3993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milanez, D. H., Schiavi, M., Amaral, R., de Faria, L., & Gregolin, J. A. R. (2013). Development of carbon-based nanomaterials indicators using the analytical tools and data provided by the web of science database. Materials Research, 16(6), 1282–1293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norkin, C., & White, D. (2003). Measurement of joint motion: A guide to goniometry. Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Sullivan, S. B., Schmitz, T. J., & Fulk, G. (2013). Physical rehabilitation: FA Davis.

  • Placidi, G., Avola, D., Iacoviello, D., & Cinque, L. (2013). Overall design and implementation of the virtual glove. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 43(11), 1927–1940. doi:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2013.08.026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, M., Haque, T. L., & Fukui, T. (2005). Research articles published in clinical radiology journals: Trend of contribution from different countries. Acad Radiol, 12(7), 825–829. doi:10.1016/j.acra.2005.03.061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saragiotto, B. T., Costa, L. C. M., Oliveira, R. F., Lopes, A. D., Moseley, A. M., & Costa, L. O. P. (2014). Description of research design of articles published in four Brazilian physical therapy journals. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 18, 56–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tägil, M., Geijer, M., Abramo, A., & Kopylov, P. (2013). Ten years’ experience with a pyrocarbon prosthesis replacing the proximal interphalangeal joint. A prospective clinical and radiographic follow-up. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), 1753193413479527.

  • Ugolini, D., Neri, M., Cesario, A., Bonassi, S., Milazzo, D., Bennati, L., et al. (2012). Scientific production in cancer rehabilitation grows higher: A bibliometric analysis. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(8), 1629–1638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ugolini, D., Neri, M., Cesario, A., Marazzi, G., Milazzo, D., Volterrani, M., et al. (2013). Bibliometric analysis of literature in cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases rehabilitation: Growing numbers, reducing impact factor. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 94(2), 324–331. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2012.08.205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uriona-Maldonado, M., dos Santos, R. N., & Varvakis, G. (2012). State of the art on the systems of innovation research: A bibliometrics study up to 2009. Scientometrics, 91(3), 977–996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Raan, A. (1999). Advanced bibliometric methods for the evaluation of universities. Scientometrics, 45(3), 417–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, P. L., Kizony, R., Feintuch, U., & Katz, N. (2006). Virtual reality in neurorehabilitation. Textbook of Neural Repair and Neurorehabilitation, 2, 182–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyller, T. B. (1997). Disability models in geriatrics: Comprehensive rather than competing models should be promoted. Disability and Rehabilitation, 19(11), 480–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhi, W., & Ji, G. (2012). Constructed wetlands, 1991–2011: A review of research development, current trends, and future directions. Science of the Total Environment, 441, 19–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, P., & Leydesdorff, L. (2006). The emergence of China as a leading nation in science. Research Policy, 35(1), 83–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the referees and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions. The authors also thank the authors of the original studies included in this analysis. Youliang Huang and Qian Huang contributed equally to this work. Xiaoming Bi and Qian Huang is correspondence author. This work was supported, in part, by Beiijng University of Chinese Medicine (Grant No. 2016-JYB-QNJSZX005).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Information Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

    Youliang Huang, Xing Zhai & Renquan Liu

  2. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Qian Huang

  3. Department of Computer Science, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan

    Sajid Ali

  4. Department of Information Technology, Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology, Zhejiang, China

    Xiaoming Bi

Authors
  1. Youliang Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qian Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sajid Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xing Zhai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiaoming Bi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Renquan Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qian Huang.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest associated with this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Huang, Y., Huang, Q., Ali, S. et al. Rehabilitation using virtual reality technology: a bibliometric analysis, 1996–2015. Scientometrics 109, 1547–1559 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-016-2117-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-016-2117-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation