Objective:

To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research patterns in cerebral palsy gait analysis from 2005 to 2025.

Approach:

• Data Collection: Systematic search of the Web of Science Core Collection following PRISMA guidelines.
• Analysis Tools: Utilized VOSviewer and CiteSpace for co-authorship, co-occurrence, clustering, burst detection, and dual-map overlay analyses.
• Validation: Secondary validation analysis performed using Scopus with an equivalent search strategy.

Key Findings:

• 1,404 publications identified; annual output increased from 26 to 112.
• USA was the most productive country with 376 papers, h-index 45.
• Gait & Posture was the leading journal with 207 articles.
• Keyword clustering revealed 10 clusters; persistent themes included 'crouch gait,' 'reliability,' and 'gross motor function.'
• Recent bursts in keywords included 'wearable sensors,' 'musculoskeletal modeling,' and 'artificial intelligence.'
• Intervention studies linking gait analysis to patient-centered outcomes are underrepresented.

Interpretation:

The analysis indicates a growing interest in technology-assisted rehabilitation in CP gait research, although the adoption of emerging technologies remains limited.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to publications in English.
• Only original articles and reviews were included, excluding other document types.

Conclusion:

The bibliometric analysis highlights the maturation of the field.

Sources:

• Open Science Framework