Artificial Intelligence in Stroke Rehabilitation: A 20-Year Bibliometric Analysis of Digital Health Trends and Technologies

Abstract

Background: Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, and rehabilitation is essential for recovery. Although artificial intelligence (AI)-related technologies have received growing attention in stroke rehabilitation, the knowledge structure and thematic evolution of this interdisciplinary field remain unclear. Objective: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of AI-related research in stroke rehabilitation from 2005 to 2024 and map publication trends, major contributors, thematic clusters, and emerging topics. Methods: Relevant publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), including SCI-Expanded and SSCI, on November 30, 2024. Only English-language articles and review articles published between January 1, 2005, and November 30, 2024 were included. A total of 3436 records were analyzed using CiteSpace 6.4.R1 Basic, GraphPad Prism 10.1.2, and biblioshiny in R. Analyses covered publication trends, collaboration networks, journal distribution, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and burst detection. Results: Publication output increased markedly over time, with the United States contributing the largest number of publications. The Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Domain was among the leading institutions, and Rocco Salvatore Calabrò was among the most productive and highly cited authors. Core publication venues included the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation and IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. The literature mainly focused on virtual reality, upper-limb rehabilitation, rehabilitation robotics, machine learning, cognitive rehabilitation, and transcranial direct current stimulation. Recent burst terms, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and deep learning, indicated growing attention to data-driven rehabilitation approaches. Conclusions: AI-related research in stroke rehabilitation has expanded substantially, with increasing emphasis on adaptive, data-driven, and technology-assisted approaches. This study provides a descriptive overview of the field's major trajectories, emerging gaps, and interdisciplinary directions, and may help inform future research and translational exploration.