Trends and hotspots related to traditional and modern approaches on acupuncture for stroke: A bibliometric and visualization analysis

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture role in stroke treatment and post-stroke rehabilitation has garnered significant attention. However, there is a noticeable gap in bibliometric studies on this topic. Additionally, the precision and comprehensive methodology of cluster analysis remain underexplored. This research sought to introduce an innovative cluster analysis technique (called follower-leading clustering algorithm, FLCA) to evaluate global publications and trends related to acupuncture for stroke in the recent decade. METHODS: Publications pertaining to acupuncture for stroke from 2013 to 2022 were sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection. For the assessment of publication attributes—including contributing countries/regions (e.g., US states, provinces, and major cities in China) in comparison to others, institutions, departments, authors, journals, and keywords—we employed bibliometric visualization tools combined with the FLCA algorithm. The analysis findings, inclusive of present research status, prospective trends, and 3 influential articles, were presented through bibliometrics with visualizations. RESULTS: We identified 1050 publications from 92 countries/regions. An initial gradual rise in publication numbers was observed until 2019, marking a pivotal juncture. Prominent contributors in research, based on criteria such as regions, institutions, departments, and authors, were Beijing (China), Beijing Univ Chinese Med (China), the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, and Lidian Chen (Fujian). The journal “Evid.-based Complement Altern” emerged as the most productive. The FLCA algorithm was effectively employed for co-word and author collaboration analyses. Furthermore, we detail the prevailing research status, anticipated trends, and 3 standout articles via bibliometrics. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture for stroke presents a vast research avenue. It is imperative for scholars from various global regions and institutions to transcend academic boundaries to foster dialogue and cooperation. For forthcoming bibliometric investigations, the application of the FLCA algorithm for cluster analysis is advocated.