Enhancing Elderly Health Through Physical Activities: Insights From a Global Bibliometric Review, 1900–2023

ABSTRACT Objective This article conducted a bibliometric analysis on research of older adults' health and physical activity (PA) to enrich the academic community's comprehension and research of this field. Methods A total of 10,778 documents published from 1900 to 2023 were included. We used Citespace to analyze global research trends, identifying core journals, highlighting collaboration networks, and citation bursts within the field of physical activity and older adults' health. Results The publications rise consistently, with close collaboration found among researchers, institutions, and countries. Developed countries made a dominant contribution. The recent research hotspots include healthy aging, the impact of physical activities on the mental health of older adults, and the utilization of virtual reality to enhance physical activity in old people. Conclusion The study suggests that promoting physical activity among older adults is crucial for healthy aging. It emphasizes the role of technology in facilitating exercise participation and the importance of research from developing countries to advance global healthy aging strategies.