TITLE:
Analysis of Global Trends and Research Frontiers in Functional Movement Screening and Lower-Limb Neuromuscular Control Using Citespace
AUTHORS:
Hongyan Kuang, Lihui Wang, Xuang Cao, Wei Su, Xinrui Li, Xuechun Li, Yun Zhou
KEYWORDS:
Functional Movement Screening, Lower Extremities, Neuromuscular Control, Sports Injuries, Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Bibliometrics
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
26,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: This bibliometric study evaluates global research output, intellectual structure, and dynamic hotspots in Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and lower-limb neuromuscular control. It aims to offer quantitative evidence to advance interdisciplinary practice in orthopedic rehabilitation and sports medicine in China. Methods: Relevant studies (2000-2026) were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace (6.4.R1) was applied to analyze institutional, national, and author collaboration patterns, alongside keyword co-occurrence, timeline dynamics, and burst terms. Results: Global publication volume expanded in distinct stages over the past two decades. Geographically, the United States, China, and Australia emerged as the principal knowledge producers, with leading academic medical centers anchoring international research networks. Keyword clustering has revealed a core knowledge framework centered on dynamic joint control, dynamic balance, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and return to sport. Analysis of emerging terms indicates that early research was highly focused on the prediction of sports injury risk and the screening of basic movement patterns; in recent years (2020-2026), “trunk,” “muscle activation,” and “mechanisms” have emerged as high-intensity research frontiers. Conclusion: The global research paradigm has shifted from screening macro-level movement patterns to a deeper exploration of multidimensional dynamic postural control mechanisms; FMS serves as a movement-quality screening tool whose predictive validity for injury is interpreted alongside neuromuscular measures; and the coordination of the “trunk-core-lower limb” holistic kinetic chain represents an important area for future academic growth.