A Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Exercise Procrastination Between 1976 and 2025

The global increase in non-communicable diseases associated with physical inactivity has become a major public health concern. Despite the well-established benefits of physical activity (PA) and exercise, individuals frequently procrastinate in engaging in regular exercise. Consequently, exercise procrastination has gained increasing scholarly attention. This study aims to examine current research trends on exercise procrastination, identify key factors influencing this behavior, reveal gaps in the literature. Bibliometric analysis and visualization were conducted using the Bibliometrix R package and the Biblioshiny web interface, with data retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database. The search strategy applied was ALL = ((procrastinat OR delay OR postpon) AND (physical activ* OR exercis*))**, and only studies categorized under Sports Sciences and published between 1976 and October 2025 were included. The findings indicate a steady increase in publication output since 1976. Nosaka, K. and Jamurtas, A. Z. were identified as the most productive authors, while the most frequently cited study was “Exercise interventions for cognitive function in adults older than 50: A systematic review with meta-analysis.” Analysis of trending topics showed an increasing emphasis on range of motion, post-exercise recovery, and physical therapy-related concepts. Collaboration analysis revealed that the United States leads at the country level, while Edith Cowan University is a prominent institutional contributor. Overall, the results indicate a substantial need for further research on exercise procrastination within sports sciences. Future studies focusing on theory development, testing of existing models, the creation of field-specific measurement tools are expected to make meaningful contributions to the literature.