Mapping the Research Landscape of Exercise and Breast Cancer: A Bibliometric Analysis From 2020 to 2024

TL;DR

This study maps the research landscape of exercise and breast cancer from 2020 to 2024, identifying trends, influential works, and gaps in the field.

Contribution

The paper provides a novel bibliometric analysis of exercise and breast cancer research, highlighting growth, themes, and geographic disparities.

Findings

Exponential growth in citations is driven by guidelines like ESC 2021 and WHO 2020.

Three main research themes are identified: evidence-based guidelines, risk quantification, and behavioral interventions.

Geographic disparities show Western dominance, with emerging contributions from Asia and Europe.

Abstract

Even though there is strong evidence that exercise improves breast cancer patients′ quality of life, treatment tolerance, and survival, disparate research initiatives and uneven clinical acceptance underscore the need for a thorough synthesis of trends, partnerships, and gaps. This bibliometric analysis systematically maps the research landscape of exercise and cardiovascular disease (CVD) from 2020 to 2024, aiming to identify trends, influential works, and knowledge gaps in this critical field. Utilizing data from the Web of Science (WoS) and VOSviewer, the study analyzed 314 articles through cocitation, coword, and co‐occurrence analyses. Key findings reveal exponential growth in citations, driven by seminal guidelines (e.g., ESC 2021 and WHO 2020) and studies on sedentary behavior and pandemic‐related activity changes. The intellectual structure is anchored by three themes: evidence‐based guidelines, risk quantification (e.g., dose–response relationships), and behavioral interventions. Dominant journals include the British Journal of Sports Medicine and JAMA, while influential authors like Dominique Hansen and Emmanuel Stamatakis shape the field. Geographic disparities highlight Western‐centric research dominance, though emerging contributions from Asia and Europe are noted. The study identifies gaps in mechanistic research, personalized exercise prescriptions, and equitable translation of evidence into practice. Practical implications call for standardized clinical protocols, dual public health messaging (activity promotion and sedentary reduction), and digital health integration. This analysis provides a roadmap for future research, emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration to optimize CVD prevention through physical activity.

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