A bibliometric analysis of research on exercise and health in the field of sports sciences

The concepts of exercise and health constitute a fundamental research area in sport sciences due to their role in enhancing quality of life, preventing diseases, and promoting healthy aging. In recent years, the growing volume of academic studies on this topic has necessitated a comprehensive and systematic review of the literature. Bibliometric analyses offer a quantitative evaluation of publication trends, collaboration networks, keyword clustering, and citation relationships. This study aims to analyse the sport sciences literature related to the keywords "exercise" and "health" using VOSviewer software, identifying research trends, prominent topics, and collaboration structures. A total of 909 studies categorized under “Sport Sciences” in the Web of Science database were examined, and data on publications, authors, citations, indexes, institutions, countries, and keywords were presented through tables and graphs. Additionally, author, institution, country, and keyword networks, along with density maps, were visualized via VOSviewer. According to Web of Science data, a total of 1,935 studies on "Exercise and Health" were published between 1980 and 2024. While these studies predominantly focus on sport sciences, tourism, psychology, and health sciences, they have also contributed significant knowledge to disciplines such as public health, nutrition, physiology, and neuroscience. The distribution of publications reveals the multidisciplinary nature of the research. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate the broad scope and impact of exercise and health, highlighting their critical importance not only for individual well-being but also for societal welfare. This diversity underscores the necessity of interdisciplinary collaborations and holistic approaches in future research, contributing to the literature by clarifying research trends and to practice by guiding evidence-based strategies in sport sciences and health promotion.