The Landscape of Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Pelvic floor rehabilitation is a specialized therapeutic approach focused on assessing and treating pelvic floor muscle dysfunction to enhance bladder, bowel, and sexual function, as well as pelvic organ support, through targeted exercises and behavioral interventions. While applicable to all populations across the lifespan, it holds particular importance for women due to the high prevalence of pelvic floor disorders. As research in this field has grown rapidly, a comprehensive overview is needed to map its development and guide future directions. This bibliometric analysis aims to analyze publication trends, assess current knowledge, and investigate thematic structure in pelvic floor rehabilitation research.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (coverage from 1900 to present). Articles and reviews published in English from database inception to December 2024 were included. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were employed to perform co-authorship, co-occurrence, co-citation, bibliographic coupling, and burst detection analyses.

Results: A total of 5020 publications (3768 articles and 1252 reviews) were included. The number of publications increased from 61 in 2000 to 468 in 2024, representing a 7.7-fold growth over this period. The top contributing countries were the United States, Brazil, England, China, and Australia. Eight thematic clusters were identified: urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, bowel dysfunction, conservative management, pelvic floor muscle, pregnancy-related care, exercise interventions, and psychometric evaluation. Co-authorship networks highlighted international collaboration, with prominent institutions in Canada, Australia, and Europe. Co-citation and burst analyses revealed seminal works and emerging topics, with recent trends focusing on women's health, sexual function, pelvic pain, and quality of life.

Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis highlights the rapid growth and evolving focus of pelvic floor rehabilitation research over the past 75 years. The findings identify key contributors, international collaborations, and emerging priorities, offering strategic insights for advancing clinical practice and research.