Bibliometric Analysis of Past Yoga Research Trends to shape Future Health and Sports Investigation

Abstract

This study employs a bibliometric analysis to systematically identify and analyse systematic reviews related to yoga. The objectives include elucidating publication characteristics, exploring trends in its application in medicine, sports performance and occupational health, assessing methodology, and identifying gaps in research findings. Data were obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection. A thematic search for "yoga" in review articles was conducted, and temporal evolution, contributors, and citation analysis were performed. A total of 1260 review articles from 76 countries were analysed. Prolific authors, journal concentration, and keyword usage were evaluated. Contributions span 76 countries and involve 5052 authors. 57 prolific authors were identified, with Holger Cramer standing out with 36 contributions. The h-index of the collective set of 1260 review articles was 93. Bibliometric indicators guided the analysis but did not ensure in-depth discussions. Yoga studies appeared in a range of Impact Factor journals. Consistent terminology is crucial for clarity and replication. Prominent research areas include yoga for mood disorders and low back pain. Despite the progression of time, the lack of information on yoga styles, professionals' qualifications, and the absence of sports physiology methodology persist across the analysed articles. Future studies should explore trends in yoga schools across countries, considering potential cultural differences in learning and application when evaluating outcomes.