Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (31): 8272-8281.doi: 10.12307/2026.345

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Bibliometric analysis of soft robotic rehabilitation applications: a multidisciplinary perspective and trend insight in the context of greater health

Shi Liupeng1, Xie Liangyu2, Dan Yuqin3, Li Wang4, Wang Jie4, Shi Liang4, Shi Bin4, Cao Shengnan4, Sun Guodong5, 6   

  1. 1School of Medical Information Engineering, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China; 2College of Medical Information and Artificial Intelligence, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250117, Shandong Province, China; 3Rehabilitation Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China; 4Neck-Shoulder and Lumbocrural Pain Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250062, Shandong Province, China; 5Rehabilitation Department, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Jinan 250031, Shandong Province, China; 6School of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
  • Received:2025-05-06 Accepted:2025-08-20 Online:2026-11-08 Published:2026-05-26
  • Contact: Cao Shengnan, PhD, Attending physician, Master’s supervisor, Neck-Shoulder and Lumbocrural Pain Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250062, Shandong Province, China. Co-corresponding author: Sun Guodong, PhD, Chief physician, Professor, Rehabilitation Department, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Jinan 250031, Shandong Province, China; School of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
  • About author:Shi Liupeng, MS candidate, School of Medical Information Engineering, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China. Xie Liangyu, PhD candidate, College of Medical Information and Artificial Intelligence, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250117, Shandong Province, China Shi Liupeng and Xie Liangyu contributed equally to this work.
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82405600 (to CSN); China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, No. 2024M761872 (to CSN); Shandong Provincial Key Research and Development Program, No. 2022CXGC020510 (to SGD); Shandong Provincial Higher Education Institutes Young Innovative Team, Nos. 2024KJN012 (to CSN) and 2023KJ176 (to SL); Jinan Clinical Medicine Science and Technology Innovation Program, No. 202328051 (to CSN); Jinan Science and Technology Program, No. 202430007 (to SGD)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Soft robotics involves robotic systems made from flexible materials that can adapt to unstructured environments and offer excellent biocompatibility and has seen a rise in applied research in the field of rehabilitation in recent years. However, there remains a lack of bibliometric analyses on the current state of research and emerging trends in this domain.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the research dynamics of soft robots in rehabilitation medicine over the past decade, revealing cutting-edge hotspots and development trends in the field.
METHODS: Relevant literature on soft robotic rehabilitation applications from 2014 to 2024 in the Web of Science database was searched by computer, and bibliometrics software such as VOSviewer 1.6.20, CiteSpace.V.6.2.R6, Charticulator and Bibliometrix were used for bibliometric and knowledge graph visualization analyses.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 596 Web of Science core database documents were included, and the number of publications regarding soft robotic rehabilitation applications has gradually increased over time. China and the United States rank the top two in terms of the number of publications and citations, but there is an imbalance in the quality of publications in China. The authors with the highest number of publications are Yu Wenwei, Cianchetti Matteo and Menciassi Arianna, who have made important contributions to the research in this field. The journals with the most relevant publications are IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and Soft Robotics, both authoritative journals in the field. The keywords co-occurrence, clustering, timeline view and emergent analyses reveal that recent research in this field has focused on developing versatile and intelligent soft rehabilitation robots. The knowledge map of research in the field of soft robotics rehabilitation applications is constructed through bibliometric analysis, systematically summarizing the current status and hotspots of research in the field, aiming to provide references and guidance for future related studies.

Key words: soft robots, rehabilitation applications, greater health, visual analysis, bibliometrics, rehabilitation medicine

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