The impact of aerobic exercise on cardiopulmonary function: A bibliometric and visualization analysis

Abstract

Background: – Research exploring how aerobic exercise influences cardiopulmonary function has gained prominence within health sciences in recent years. However, systematic analyses examining this research area remain limited, highlighting the need for bibliometric approaches to clarify the current research status and emerging trends. Methods: – This study reviewed publications from 2010 to 2024 to comprehensively outline progress and identify future directions within this field. Bibliometric analysis and visualization were performed using CiteSpace 6.4.R1, examining publication trends, geographic distributions, institutional contributions, author collaboration networks, key cited references, and keyword co-occurrences. Results: – The research focus has evolved from traditional endurance training toward innovative methods, such as high-intensity interval training. This shift underscores aerobic exercise’s significant role in enhancing cardiopulmonary fitness, preventing metabolic diseases, supporting cardiovascular rehabilitation, and improving psychological health. Keyword analysis further revealed growing research interests in molecular mechanisms, personalized interventions, and interdisciplinary approaches. Conclusion: – Research from 2010 to 2024 has expanded our theoretical understanding of aerobic exercise’s effects on cardiopulmonary function and provided valuable evidence for health policy development and clinical practice. Future studies should further investigate underlying molecular mechanisms, personalized intervention strategies, and multidisciplinary collaboration to advance and broaden the scope of this important field.