MAPPING THE LANDSCAPE OF PROPRIOCEPTION RESEARCH IN GYMNASTICS: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Proprioception is a fundamental aspect of human movement and body awareness. The body’s ability to perceive its position in space enables accurate limb movement and balance control. Purpose: This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge and to analyze bibliometric data related to proprioception in gymnastics and acrobatics. The study consists of two phases: (1) a bibliometric review based on data from the Web of Science and (2) a systematic review using Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases. The search terms "gymnast*" and "propriocep*" were used to identify relevant publications. Out of 164 studies, 29 were included for data extraction, comprising 1,379 participants of various ages, sports, physical activity levels, and physical conditions. Due to the heterogeneity of study designs and assessment methods, interpreting the effects of proprioceptive interventions and comparing results across samples is challenging. Proprioception in gymnastics is difficult to define, given the diversity of referenced evidence and physiological considerations. Moreover, the commonly used assessment tools do not fully capture the multisensory nature of proprioception as it applies to gymnastics. Our findings suggest that gymnastics training enhances joint position awareness and force sense, thereby improving proprioception and reducing the risk of injury. Proprioceptive exercises should be integrated into gymnastics training programs to promote movement stability and precision.