Background: Virtual reality (VR) is a rapidly developing technology that has gained significant traction in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with stroke. Research on VR-based stroke treatment has garnered increasing attention. Objective: The aim of this study is to present a bibliometric analysis of VR for stroke studies to identify the application status, research hotspots, and emerging trends and guide future scientific research. Methods: We included studies and reviews on the topic of VR-based stroke treatment and rehabilitation from 1999 to 2023 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection database. Citespace 6.3.1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 software was used for the visual analysis of publications, institutions, authors, journals, citations, and Scimago Graphica software was used for the geographic visualization of published countries or regions. Results: Our study analyzed 1171 papers on VR-based stroke rehabilitation published between 1999 and 2023, revealing a gradual increase in annual publications over the past 2 decades, peaking at 154 in 2022. North America and Western Europe were identified as major contributors, with significant input from their institutions, researchers, and publications. The Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation emerged as the leading journal in this field, while Calabrò Rocco Salvatore was recognized as the most prolific author, focusing on the neurophysiological impacts of VR on patients with stroke. Keywords with notable citation bursts, such as “environment,” “trial,” “arm,” and “motor learning,” highlighted the core research themes in this domain. Conclusions: Our study provides valuable insights into the current research hotspots and emerging trends in VR-based stroke treatment and rehabilitation. Current research primarily focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of VR in improving upper limb function and balance in patients with stroke. Future directions are shifting towards integrating VR with rehabilitation techniques, such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, while advancements in VR technology continue to garner increasing attention.

Background: Digital therapeutics (DTx) are emerging as a dynamic field at the intersection of healthcare and technology, utilising software-driven interventions to prevent, manage, or treat medical conditions. Within rehabilitation, DTx has gained prominence for its potential to improve patient outcomes and refine therapeutic strategies. This article conducts a bibliometric analysis of existing literature to uncover current research trends and offer insights for future investigations. Methods: The Science Citation Index Expanded database from the Web of Science Core Collection was used to retrieve articles and reviews related to DTx in rehabilitation. The data were subjected to systematic analysis using the VOSviewer and Citespace software tools, which facilitated the examination of publication data at the country, institutional, author, journal, citation, and keyword levels. Results: A total of 6593 papers published between 2000 and 2024 were reviewed. The volume of publications has steadily increased over the past two decades, reaching a peak in 2022 ( n = 832). Leading contributors to research output and citation impact include the United States, Italy, China, Canada, and United Kingdom. Current research hotspots include the efficacy of DTx in rehabilitation, with a focus on innovative applications in psychiatric disorders, telerehabilitation, and cognitive rehabilitation. The top 10 researchers were all from Italy, and half of them were affiliated to the Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo Messina. Conclusions: This study represents the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of DTx within the rehabilitation field. It identifies current research frontiers and emerging directions, serving as a valuable resource for scholars and researchers investigating DTx's impact on rehabilitation practices.

Introduction: Sleep disorders are prevalent conditions that significantly impact health and quality of life, often linked to underlying issues such as neurological and psychiatric disorders, chronic pain, and aging. These disturbances, including insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, contribute to cognitive decline, mood disorders, and decreased physical health. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have emerged as potential treatments for various conditions, with growing interest in their application for sleep disorders. While some studies suggest positive effects, the evidence remains inconsistent, with variations in study designs, protocols, and outcomes. Furthermore, existing meta-analyses have not adequately addressed subgroup analyses, which are crucial for identifying more specific treatment parameters and patient characteristics. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to fill this gap by evaluating the efficacy of NIBS for sleep disturbances, focusing on the quality of evidence, treatment parameters, and potential moderators, ultimately informing clinical practice and guiding future research in this field. Method and analysis: This systematic review and meta-analysis will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare the effects of NIBS with sham stimulation on sleep disorders. A thorough literature search will be conducted, covering the period from the beginning of each database’s record to January 2025. The following databases will be searched: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science (WOS), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Two independent reviewers will evaluate the articles and assess their methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data will be extracted using a standardized template. The meta-analysis will determine the overall effect of NIBS on sleep outcomes, with heterogeneity assessed through I². Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be performed to investigate treatment variables and the robustness of the results. Ethics and dissemination: This systematic review does not require ethical approval. The results of the study will be shared at scientific conferences and published in journals with peer review. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42025645170.

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Digital therapeutics (DTx) are emerging as a dynamic field at the intersection of healthcare and technology, utilizing software-driven interventions to prevent, manage, or treat medical conditions. Within rehabilitation, DTx has gained prominence for its potential to improve patient outcomes and refine therapeutic strategies. This paper conducts a bibliometric analysis of existing literature to uncover current research trends and offer insights for future investigations. Methods: The Science Citation Index Expanded database from the Web of Science Core Collection was used to retrieve articles and reviews related to digital therapeutics in rehabilitation. The data were subjected to systematic analysis using the VOSviewer and Citespace software tools, which facilitated the examination of publication data at the country, institutional, author, journal, citation, and keyword levels. Results: A total of 6,593 papers published between 2000 and 2024 were reviewed. The volume of publications has steadily increased over the past two decades, reaching a peak in 2022 (n = 832). Leading contributors to research output and citation impact include the USA, Italy, China, Canada, and England. Current research hotspots include the efficacy of DTx in rehabilitation, with a focus on innovative applications in psychiatric disorders, telerehabilitation, and cognitive rehabilitation. The top 10 researchers were all from Italy, and half of them were affiliated to the Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo Messina, and all had higher citations than those from other Italian organisations. Conclusions: This study represents the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of DTx within the rehabilitation field. It identifies current research frontiers and emerging directions, serving as a valuable resource for scholars and researchers investigating DTx's impact on rehabilitation practices.

BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR) is a rapidly developing technology that has gained significant traction in the medical domain, particularly in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with stroke. The growing use of VR in stroke management has led to a notable increase in clinical investigations. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to present a bibliometric analysis of VR for stroke studies to identify prevailing research trends and guide future scientific research. METHODS Articles and reviews on the topic of virtual reality for stroke were retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded of Web of Science Core Collection database. The data related to publications, countries, institutions, authors, journals, citations, and keywords in the studies were systematically analyzed using VOSviewer 1.6.20 and Citespace 6.3.1 software. RESULTS A total of 1171 papers on the topic of VR for stroke between 1999 and 2023 were analyzed and visualized to identify research hotspots and trends in the field. The number of annual publications in this field of study has increased gradually over the past 20 years, with the number of annual publications peaking in 2022 (n=154). In terms of publications and total citations, countries, institutions, and authors from North America and Western Europe were found to make significant contributions to the field. The current hotspot is concentrated on evaluating the effectiveness of VR for improving upper limb and balance functions in stroke patients. The keyword analysis indicates that the latest research is oriented to investigate the effectiveness of VR in combination with rehabilitation techniques such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy for the treatment of stroke, and the advancements in VR technology are increasingly gaining focus. CONCLUSIONS Our study offers insights into the current hotspots and emerging trends of VR in the treatment of stroke. These findings may serve as a guide for future research and the application of VR for stroke.