The effects of light environment on physical performance: a bibliometric analysis from 1991 to 2024

The light environment is one of the most important regulators of daily activities that influence human physical performance. However, few comprehensive reviews have been done with regard to research trends and the current state of this field. Bibliometric analysis can provide an understanding of the progress in research. It provides a clear picture of the scope, intensity, and future directions of the field. We analyzed the literature related to physical performance in light environment research using SciExplorer and VOSviewer. In total, 1,742 English-language publications were identified from the Web of Science Core Collection (WSCC) related to "light environment" and "physical performance." The results indicate a growth in the number of studies, increased international collaboration, and major contributions from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Ophthalmology, engineering, and psychology are the main research areas. The average appearance year of the author keyword ‘luminance’ is 2011. These results show the research focus of this domain and the tendency of emerging trends. We further show how SciExplorer and VOSviewer can give researchers new insights and approaches in sports sciences.