Research hotspots, frontier changes, and trend prospects of neuromuscular training

doi:10.12307/2025.735

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: With the rise of sports medicine, neuromuscular training has become a popular area of research in recent years, and a large number of results have been achieved. However, existing research lacks a comprehensive and systematic review, underscoring the need for a holistic and systematic synthesis to elucidate the current status, key issues, and trends in this field.
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comprehensive overview of the current status, characteristics, and trends of research in the field of neuromuscular training.
METHODS: A search of the Web of Science Core Collection database was conducted for peer-reviewed English-language journal articles regarding neuromuscular training. Conference papers, reviews, book chapters, and irrelevant papers were excluded, and a total of 3 102 core literature items were included. The bibliometric and visualization analyses of the included literature were conducted using the VOSviewer 1.6.20 and Citespace software.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Research in the field of neuromuscular training has entered a phase of sustained growth in the last decade. (2) The University of Cincinnati is the most influential institution in this field, having fostered a closely cooperating research team, including Prof. Gregory D. Myer, who has made significant contributions to the development of the field. The American Journal of Sports Medicine is the most prominent journal in this field, and because of its multifaceted strengths, the United States dominates research in this area. (3) The research topics that have attracted the greatest attention include neuromuscular control (centrality: 0.09), injury (centrality: 0.02), and kinesiology (centrality: 0.06). The research in this field is characterized by a systematic, prospective, effective and applied approach. The mechanisms of injury rehabilitation and functional reconstruction, characteristics of sports performance and intervention strategies, rehabilitation training methods and countermeasures, and risk prevention interventions and validation of the effects are the focus of the researchers’ continuous attention. (4) The principal burst words include anterior cruciate ligament (emergent intensity: 33.23) and activation (emergent intensity: 22.7). The evolution of research frontiers indicates a shift in perspective from localization to systematic integration. The research objective has transitioned from a primary focus on prevention and treatment to a more holistic approach that encompasses capacity enhancement. Additionally, the emphasis has shifted from merely activating the process to achieving precise control. (5) It is recommended that future research should further promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and facilitate the development of neuromuscular training towards diversification, individualization and long-term effectiveness.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建；骨细胞；软骨细胞；细胞培养；成纤维细胞；血管内皮细胞；骨质疏松；组织工程

Key words: neuromuscular training, neural training, muscle training, bibliometrics, visual analysis, Citespace, VOSviewer

CLC Number:

Tian Hao, Chen Dingding, Wang Deng, Ye Qiang. Research hotspots, frontier changes, and trend prospects of neuromuscular training[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2025, 29(24): 5148-5157.

Figures/Tables 10

2.1 检索结果与文献特征回溯神经肌肉训练相关研究发展历程(图1)，自20世纪40年代起有学者开始关注，从20世纪90年代初开始起步，进入21世纪相关研究开始稳步增长，2018年起每年发文均超过200篇，到2022年达到了年发文251篇，神经肌肉训练目前已成为重要的研究领域。 2.2 主要学者分析神经肌肉训练领域共有9 741位作者，根据普赖斯定律中核心作者计算公式[20]，核心作者中最低发文量M=7.856，约为8篇。有99位核心作者发文量≥8篇，其中35位核心作者的发文量≥13篇(图2)。分析结果表明神经肌肉训练研究领域已形成显著的核心作者团队，该团队以Gregory D. Myer(美国埃默里大学运动表现和研究中心)、Timothy Edwin Hewett(美国马歇尔大学医学院)、Kevin R. Ford(美国海波因特大学)为核心，是目前该领域成果最显著、合作最紧密的研究团队。Gregory D. Myer(110篇，美国埃默里大学运动表现和研究中心)、Timothy Edwin Hewett(81篇，美国马歇尔大学医学院)、Kevin R. Ford(52篇，美国马歇尔大学医学院)、Ewa M. Roos(30篇，美国马歇尔大学医学院)和Rhodri Lloyd(27篇，美国马歇尔大学医学院)是发文量排名前5的学者。 2.3 主要机构分析神经肌肉训练领域的研究共涉及2 927个机构，有38个机构的发文量≥23篇(图3)。结果表明国际上已有大量机构参与该领域研究，且机构之间存在频繁的合作。与其他机构连接最广泛的机构是辛辛那提大学(美国，连接数：509)，其次是米凯利运动损伤预防中心(美国，连接数：338)、辛辛那提儿童医院医疗中心(美国，连接数：336)、俄亥俄州立大学(美国，连接数：254)、卡迪夫都市大学(英国，连接数：181)。发文量最多的5个机构分别是：辛辛那提大学(125篇)、俄亥俄州立大学(82篇)、北卡罗来纳大学(76篇)、辛辛那提儿童医院医疗中心(74篇)、南丹麦大学(63篇)。 2.4 主要国家分析神经肌肉训练领域共涉及76个国家，有36个国家的发文量≥14篇(图4)，其中美国(连接数：457)与其他国家联系最广泛，其次是英国(连接数：271)、澳大利亚(连接数：242)、加拿大(连接数：175)、德国(连接数：141)。美国是神经肌肉训练领域最高产的国家，发文量为1 303篇，占所有纳入文献的42%，处于较为明显的垄断地位，其次较为活跃的国家包括加拿大(232篇)、澳大利亚(229篇)、英国(224篇)和中国(190篇)。 2.5 主要来源期刊分析神经肌肉训练领域涉及的期刊共有635本，有37本期刊的发文量≥20篇(图5)，在神经肌肉训练领域中，期刊内容涉及运动科学、骨科、神经科学、工程生物医学等多个学科，研究问题主要聚焦于前交叉韧带、足球、脚踝损伤、腰痛和跌倒等主题。与其他期刊联系最广泛的期刊是《American Journal of Sports Medicine》(连接数：2 512)，在行业内具备不可或缺的影响力，其次是《Journal of Athletic Training》(连接数：963)、《Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy》(连接数：827)、《Journal of Strength And Conditioning Research》(连接数：783)和《Clinical Biomechanics》(连接数：61)。而《Journal of Athletic Training》(85篇)发文量最多，其次是《Journal of Biomechanics》(83篇)，《Journal of Sport Rehabilitation》(79篇)、《Journal of Strength And Conditioning Research》(74篇)和《American Journal of Sports Medicine》(72篇)。"

2.6 被引文献分析神经肌肉训练领域有3 102篇文献，有38篇文献的被引频次≥290次(图6)。其中，被引频次最高的文献为Hewett(2005)[21]，被引频次高达2 327次，其次为Hewett(1999)[22]、Paterno(2010)[23]、Plisky(2006)[24]、Hewett(1996)[25] (表1)。 2.7 参考文献共被引分析神经肌肉训练领域共有6 742条共被引的参考文献，有35篇文献的共被引频次≥77次(图7)。可视化分析可见，神经肌肉训练领域共被引参考文献数量繁多，参考文献之间存在活跃的共被引关系。Hewett在2005年发表于《The American journal of sports medicine》的文章共被引频次最高(表2)[21-22，25-27]。 2.8 关键词分析 2.8.1 关键词共现分析通过对某一研究领域内已发表文献的主要关键词进行共现网络分析，可以更直观和全面地把握该领域近年来的研究焦点和发展趋势。神经肌肉训练领域共有8 975个关键词，其中有36个关键词的出现频率≥125次(图8)。从关键词的出现频率来看：神经肌肉控制(neuromuscular control)、损伤(injury)、运动学(kinematics)是出现频次最多的关键词。从关键词连线的数量来看：神经肌肉控制(neuromuscular control)、前交叉韧带(anterior cruciate ligament)和运动学(kinematics)等关键词与其他关键词之间存在较高的关联度，显示出较强的影响力(表3)。 2.8.2 关键词聚类分析和时区演化分析关键词聚类分析旨在将文献中含义相近的关键词归类汇总，帮助研究者快速把握该研究领域的核心方向和主题[28]。通过LLR算法提取神经肌肉领域关键词聚类，关键词聚类的模块值(Q值)为0.371 5、平均轮廓值(S值)为0.730 1，表明聚类结果具有显著性与合理性[29]。进一步分析各聚类组群的节点信息，对聚类组群进行分类整理和整合(图9)，总结出4个主要研究热点，其中热点1为损伤康复机制与功能重建(#0、#6)，该研究热点关注神经肌肉控制、联合适应、肌肉功能、前交叉韧带重建等核心关键词；热点2为运动表现特征与干预方"

式(#1、#2)，该研究热点集中在训练状态、关节症状、肌肉功能、肌肉激活模式等核心关键词；热点3为康复训练方法与应对策略(#3、#5)，在康复训练方法与应对策略研究热点中，关键词包括关节病变、损伤风险、关节力矩、前交叉韧带重建、关节肌肉激活等；热点4为风险预防干预与效果实证(#4、#7)，该研究热点关注功能性运动筛查、整合神经肌肉训练、热身活动、运动模式等核心关键词。 2.8.3 关键词突现分析突现分析通过评估关键词在特定时间段内的引用频率来判断研究领域在此期间的活跃程度，并标识出新兴的研究焦点[30-31]。当关键词的出现频率超过整体数据集的基准阈值时，这类关键词被视为突现词，它们代表着研究前沿并且能够指示研究领域未来的趋势和发展方向[32]。使用citespace软件中“Burstness”功能对20世纪90年代以来的文献进行突现图绘制(图10)，共得到28个突现词，分别为deficient knee(膝关节功能障碍)、dynamics(动力学)、contractions(肌肉收缩)、basketball(篮球)、balance (平衡能力)、biomechanics(生物力学)、basketball players(篮球运动员)、anterior cruciate ligament(前交叉韧带)、anterior knee pain(前膝疼痛)、anterior cruciate ligament injury(前交叉韧带损伤)、adolescent soccer players(青少年足球运动员)、 anterior(前侧的)、ankle sprains(踝关节扭伤)、adduction moment(内收力矩)、ankle sprain(踝关节扭伤)、acl reconstruction(前交叉韧带重建)、adaptation(适应)、acute knee injury (急性膝关节损伤)、acl injury(前交叉韧带损伤)、adolescents(青少年)、age (年龄)、ability(能力)、2 dimensional video analysis(二维视频分析)、adjustments(调整)、activation(激活)、adults(成年人)、agility(敏捷性)和ankle(踝关节)。"

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