Scientometric Analysis of Scientific Publications on Physical Therapy in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy

The escalating volume of scientific publications underscores the growing need for public policies that support the evaluation of academic journals and the coordination of scientific research endeavors. Scientometric studies facilitate the identification and measurement of publication productivity, not only within physical therapy but also across diverse health-related disciplines. Consequently, this study aimed to delineate the profile of scientific publications concerning physical rehabilitation in individuals with cerebral palsy. The methodology involved a search for scientific articles in databases such as Web of Science and PubMed, encompassing publications in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The initial search yielded 1,986 journals/publications, from which 690 were selected for analysis. The analysis revealed a predominance of publications in English, originating from developed countries (or nations). A total of 79 distinct physical therapy approaches were identified, disseminated across 196 different journals. This study highlights the importance of identifying the most frequently employed interventions and the platforms through which such research is disseminated.