Keywords:
physical activity
healthy aging
older adults
bibliometric analysis
research trends
citespace

  • Abstract

    As the global population ages, exercise interventions have become increasingly important for promoting health in older adults. Aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and their combination each offer unique benefits. However, the respective research trends of these exercise modalities have rarely been systematically compared. This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of these three exercise modalities using Web of Science data and CiteSpace visualization. This study retrieved and analyzed literature from the Web of Science Core Collection (2015–2024) using CiteSpace software. The search targeted articles on aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), and combined aerobic and resistance exercise (CARE) for the elderly. After manual screening, 1,465 articles were included (AE: 616; RE: 746; CARE: 103). CiteSpace was employed to construct country collaboration, institutional, co-authorship, and keyword co-occurrence maps, as well as to identify emerging research fronts. The Results show that RE received the highest research attention, peaking in 2019, while AE maintained a stable output. CARE had lower publication volume but showed notable growth. The United States, Brazil, and China were the leading contributors, though international collaboration in combined exercise studies remains weak. Keyword analysis revealed that AE studies emphasized cardiovascular and cognitive benefits, RE focused on muscle function and nutritional support, and CARE highlighted fall prevention, quality of life, and chronic disease management. The field is shifting from single-modality interventions toward integrated, multidimensional strategies. CARE is emerging as a promising approach due to its comprehensive health benefits. However, gaps remain in research collaboration and knowledge structure in this area. This study provides a macroscopic overview of global trends and may inform interdisciplinary research and policy development aimed at healthy aging.

  • References

    1. Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., Carty, C., Chaput, J. P., Chastin, S., Chou, R., Dempsey, P. C., DiPietro, L., Ekelund, U., Firth, J., Friedenreich, C. M., Garcia, L., Gichu, M., Jago, R., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Lambert, E., … Willumsen, J. F. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(24), 1451–1462. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
    2. Cadore, E. L., Casas-Herrero, A., Zambom-Ferraresi, F., Idoate, F., Millor, N., Gómez, M., Rodriguez-Mañas, L., & Izquierdo, M. (2014). Multicomponent exercises including muscle power training enhance muscle mass, power output, and functional outcomes in institutionalized frail nonagenarians. Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 36(2), 773–785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-013-9586-z
    3. Chapman, S. B., Aslan, S., Spence, J. S., Defina, L. F., Keebler, M. W., Didehbani, N., & Lu, H. (2013). Shorter term aerobic exercise improves brain, cognition, and cardiovascular fitness in aging. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 5, 75. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2013.00075
    4. Chen, C. (2006). CiteSpace II: Detecting and visualizing emerging trends and transient patterns in scientific literature. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 57(3), 359–377. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.20317
    5. Chen, C. (2016). CiteSpace: A practical guide for mapping scientific literature (pp. 41–44). Nova Science Publishers.
    6. Ciairano, S., Liubicich, M. E., & Rabaglietti, E. (2010). The effects of a physical activity programme on the psychological wellbeing of older people in a residential care facility: An experimental study. Ageing & Society, 30(4), 609–626. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X09990614
    7. Cruz-Jentoft, A. J., Bahat, G., Bauer, J., Boirie, Y., Bruyère, O., Cederholm, T., … Zamboni, M. (2019). Writing Group for the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2), and the Extended Group for EWGSOP2. Sarcopenia: Revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing, 48(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy169
    8. Dzikowski, P. (2018). A bibliometric analysis of born global firms. Journal of Business Research, 85, 281–294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.12.054
    9. Fumes-Ghantous, G., Corrente, J. E., & Tatis, A. F. G. (2020). Factors related to functional capacity and quality of life for elderly people in a middle-sized city of São Paulo, Brazil. Health, 12(12), 1562–1574. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2020.1212113
    10. Ganz, D. A., Siu, A. L., Magaziner, J., Latham, N. K., Travison, T. G., Lorenze, N. P., Lu, C., Wang, R., Greene, E. J., Stowe, C. L., Harvin, L. N., Araujo, K. L. B., Gurwitz, J. H., Agrawal, Y., Correa-De-Araujo, R., Peduzzi, P., Gill, T. M., & STRIDE Investigators. (2019). Protocol for serious fall injury adjudication in the Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop Confidence in Elders (STRIDE) study. Injury Epidemiology, 6, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-019-0190-2
    11. Huibin, H., Wenchang, L., Ing, T. M., & Ning, H. (2025). A bibliometric analysis of Hakka studies: Insights from WoS and CSSCI data using CiteSpace. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(9), 2025283. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025283
    12. Juan, P., & Xianyi, Z. (2013). Aerobic exercise effects on the health management of elderly patients with chronic diseases. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 29, e2022_0787. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202329012022_0787
    13. Langlois, F., Vu, T. T., Chassé, K., Dupuis, G., Kergoat, M. J., & Bherer, L. (2013). Benefits of physical exercise training on cognition and quality of life in frail older adults. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 68(3), 400–404. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbs069
    14. Li, G., Wang, Z., Hao, Y., Qian, J., Hu, B., Wang, Y., Luo, X., Ning, Y., & Lin, F. (2024). Consensus statement of Chinese experts on exercise prescription (2023). Sports Medicine and Health Science, 6(2), 200–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2024.02.003
    15. Liang, M., Pan, Y., Zhong, T., Zeng, Y., & Cheng, A. S. K. (2021). Effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise on metabolic syndrome parameters and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, 22(4), 1523–1533. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2204156
    16. Liu, H., Zhao, S., & Xin, O. (2019). Analysis on the evolution path and hotspot of knowledge innovation study based on knowledge map. Sustainability, 11(19), 5528. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195528
    17. Mahmoudi, A., Amirshaghaghi, F., Aminzadeh, R., & Mohamadi Turkmani, E. (2022). Effect of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise training on depressive symptoms, quality of life, and muscle strength in healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Biological Research for Nursing, 24(4), 541–559. https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004221104850
    18. Mei, N., & Chang, Y. (2022). Effect of aerobic exercise on physical function indices in the elderly. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 29, e2022_0236. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202329012022_0236
    19. Mi, J., Zhang, L., Sun, W., Wang, Z., Yang, P., Zhang, J., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Research hotspots and new trends in the impact of resistance training on aging: Bibliometric and visual analysis based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1133972. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1133972
    20. Nouchi, R., Taki, Y., Takeuchi, H., Hashizume, H., Nozawa, T., Sekiguchi, A., Nouchi, H., & Kawashima, R. (2012). Beneficial effects of short-term combination exercise training on diverse cognitive functions in healthy older people: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 13(1), 200. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-13-200
    21. Oh, Y. (2021). The National Health Plan 2030: Its purpose and directions of development. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 54(3), 173–181. https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.21.198
    22. Pranckutė, R. (2021). Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus: The titans of bibliographic information in today’s academic world. Publications, 9(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications9010012
    23. Rismayanthi, C., Zein, M. I., Mulyawan, R., Nurfadhila, R., Prasetyawan, R. R., & Antoni, M. S. (2022). The effect of low impact aerobic exercise on increasing physical fitness for the elderly. Jurnal Keolahragaan, 10(1), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.21831/jk.v10i1.48743
    24. Sillanpää, E., Häkkinen, K., Holviala, J., & Häkkinen, A. (2012). Combined strength and endurance training improves health-related quality of life in healthy middle-aged and older adults. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 33(12), 981–986. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1311589
    25. Westcott, W. L. (2012). Resistance training is medicine: Effects of strength training on health. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 11(4), 209–216. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0b013e31825dabb8
    26. World Health Organization. (2022). Ageing and health. https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
    27. Yang, Z., Hotterbeex, P., Marent, P. J., Cerin, E., Thomis, M., & van Uffelen, J. (2024). Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cognitive function among older adults: A bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2024. Ageing Research Reviews, 97, 102283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2024.102283
    28. Zaidi, A., Gasior, K., Zolyomi, E., Schmidt, A., Rodrigues, R., & Marin, B. (2017). Measuring active and healthy ageing in Europe. Journal of European Social Policy, 27(2), 138–157. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958928716676550
    29. Zhang, R., Wang, J., Xi, H., Cheng, Y., & Han, B. (2025). Global research trends in sarcopenia: A bibliometric analysis of exercise and nutrition (2005–2025). Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1579572. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1579572
    30. Zhao, J., Bai, Y., Yang, Y., & Li, X. (2024). The impact of aerobics on mental health and stress levels: A visualization analysis of the CiteSpace map. PLOS ONE, 19(3), e0300677. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300677
    31. Zhao, Y., Li, J., Tao, C., & Ding, R. (2022). Research hotspots and trends of cardiopulmonary exercise test: Visualization analysis based on CiteSpace. Medicine in Novel Technology and Devices, 16, 100191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medntd.2022.100191
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2025 The Authors

How to cite

Changyuan, Z., Huibin, H., & Dev, R. D. O. (2025). A bibliometric study of aerobic, resistance, and combined aerobic and resistance exercise research in the elderly: Insights from WoS using citespace. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 9(4), 2026177. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2026177
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
  • Article viewed - 482
  • PDF downloaded - 142