Bibliometric Analysis of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies on Manual Therapy Analgesia from 2002–2022

Abstract

Background

Research on the brain mechanisms underlying manual therapy (MT)-induced analgesia has been conducted worldwide. However, no bibliometric analysis has been performed on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of MT analgesia. To provide a theoretical foundation for the practical application of MT analgesia, this study examined the current incarnation, hotspots, and frontiers of fMRI-based MT analgesia research over the previous 20 years.

Methods

All publications were obtained from the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCI-E) of Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC). We used CiteSpace 6.1.R3 to analyze publications, authors, cited authors, countries, institutions, cited journals, references, and keywords. We also evaluated keyword co-occurrences and timelines, and citation bursts. The search was conducted from 2002–2022 and was completed within one day on October 7, 2022.

Results

In total, 261 articles were retrieved. The total number of annual publications showed a fluctuating but overall increasing trend. Author B. Humphreys had the highest number of publications (eight articles) and J. E. Bialosky had the highest centrality (0.45). The United States of America (USA) was the country with the most publications (84 articles), accounting for 32.18% of all publications. Output institutions were mainly the University of Zurich, University of Switzerland, and the National University of Health Sciences of the USA. The Spine (118) and the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (80) were most frequently cited. The four hot topics in fMRI studies on MT analgesia were “low back pain”, “magnetic resonance imaging”, “spinal manipulation”, and “manual therapy.” The frontier topics were “clinical impacts of pain disorders” and “cutting-edge technical capabilities offered by magnetic resonance imaging”.

Conclusion

fMRI studies of MT analgesia have potential applications. fMRI studies of MT analgesia have linked several brain areas, with the default mode network (DMN) garnering the most attention. Future research should include international collaboration and RCTs on this topic.

Keywords:

• manual therapy
• analgesia
• functional magnetic resonance imaging
• CiteSpace
• bibliometric analysis
• web of science

Abbreviations

MT, manual therapy; fMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging; CNS, central nervous system; WOSCC, Web of Science Core Collection; SCI-E, Science Citation Index-Expanded; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; S2, secondary sensory cortices; FC, functional connectivity; RCTs, randomized controlled trial; DMN, default mode network; PAG, periaqueductal gray.

Data Sharing Statement

The raw data can be directly obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), and further inquiries can be directed at the corresponding author.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no potential conflicts of interest in this study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82274672), the “Pioneer” and “Leading Goose” R&D Program of Zhejiang (Grant No. 2022C03123), the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang (Grant No. 2020ZX010).