Imagine Traditional Chinese Exercise (TCE) as a dynamic vine weaving its way through the global landscape of prevention and treatment. TCE has gained popularity in combating neurodegenerative diseases, but a comprehensive summary of current research is lacking. To fill this gap, researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis to uncover trends and potential future directions. Using data from the Web of Science Core Collection, they identified 220 publications on TCE and neurodegenerative diseases from 1999 to 2021. The results revealed that the United States dominates productivity, while Fuzhong Li makes a significant impact as both the most prolific and co-cited author. Notably, Tai Chi, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease emerge as focal points in recent research. Looking ahead, the study envisions continued emphasis on Parkinson’s disease and further exploration of the effects of Baduanjin, Wuqinxi, and Yijinjing in TCE.

BackgroundTraditional Chinese Exercise (TCE) has expanded out of China into the world and is frequently used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Although many studies have explored the ability of TCE as an intervention for neurodegenerative diseases, there are limited articles summarizing the research. The aim of this study was to investigate current research trends around TCE for neurodegenerative diseases and predict future directions for such research.Materials and MethodsData was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). All articles and reviews on TCE in relation to neurodegenerative diseases were retrieved. The data analysis was performed using the CiteSpace (5.8R3) software, and the results were displayed in network maps.ResultsThe search identified 220 publications between 1999 and 2021. The United States was the most productive country (n = 89), followed by China (n = 68). The United States had the greatest centrality, indicating its tremendous global influence and close collaborations with other countries. Fuzhong Li from the Oregon Research Institute, United States, was not only the most prolific author (n = 5), but also the most co-cited author (n = 120). The Shanghai University of Sport contributed to the most publications (n = 12). PLOS ONE was the most published journal, while Movement Disorders was the most cited journal. Tai Chi, Parkinson’s disease, quality of life, balance, and older adult were the most high-frequency keywords, while Alzheimer’s disease had the highest centrality.ConclusionThe number of publications on TCE related to neurodegenerative diseases has shown major growth in the past decade. However, there is a need for research institutions to strengthen cooperation between countries and institutions. Tai Chi, Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease, older adults and falls reduction have been the recent research focus. It is anticipated that in the future, PD will continue to be a central focus with the effects of Baduanjin, Wuqinxi, and Yijinjing requiring further research.

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