Global research trends in the muscle pain management for cancer pain: A bibliometric analysis from 2015 to 2024

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current research status and trends in the management of cancer-related muscle pain worldwide from 2015 to 2024 using bibliometric methods. METHODS: In this study, a literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection for the period from January 1, 2015, to January 21, 2025. The inclusion criteria were restricted to English-language original articles and reviews. We excluded non-English publications and other document types, such as editorial materials, book chapters, proceeding papers, letters, and news items. Ultimately, 909 valid publications (671 articles and 238 reviews) were retrieved. Data analysis was carried out using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the bibliometrix package in R software, focusing on main bibliometric indicators including the number of publications, total citation counts, country and institutional contributions, author productivity, journal influence, and keyword co-occurrence clusters. RESULTS: China and the United States were the main contributors in this field. The number of published articles increased continuously, peaking at 148 publications in 2023. Most of the highly productive authors were from China, forming a close collaboration network. In terms of journal influence, Medicine (n = 77) and Cancers (n = 31) published the most articles, while The Lancet (1990 citations) and Pain (974 citations) received the highest total citation counts. Through keyword clustering analysis, 4 dominant clusters were identified: basic research and clinical management of cancer-related muscle pain, the psychological state and quality of life of patients, evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of treatment, and comprehensive management strategies. CONCLUSION: This study systematically summarizes the research progress in the management of cancer-related muscle pain from 2015 to 2024, and reveals the research hotspots and future trends in this field. Future research should further strengthen international cooperation and improve the research quality, especially in the research on pain mechanisms, comprehensive management, and the quality of life of patients.