Research on central fatigue during exercise from 2011 to 2022: A review and bibliometric analysis (Preprint)

Abstract

Central fatigue expresses as a progressive reduction in voluntary activation or neural drive to the muscle, belong to muscle fatigue, which is due to failure of the central nervous system to excite or drive motoneurons adequately.

This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the field, a detailed review of the current research by CiteSpace and Vos Viewer software.

We retrieved the Web of Science Core Collection database from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2022 about central exercise fatigue related publications. Adopting the method of bibliometric analysis, we tracked research trends and research hotpots currently.

Through carding the research of central fatigue in neuroscience and pharmacology, a total of 451 central exercise fatigue were published in the past 11 years. France and USA as the most common country of origin. Only 12 organizations issued more than 10 relevant publications. The author with the highest publication volume is Amann European journal of applied physiology published the greatest number of articles. Based on the reference co-citation analysis, a total of 7 major clusters for predominant research topics summarized by clustering high-frequency keywords were explored: supplementation, knee extensors, locomotor exercise, central nervous system, heat stress and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

We provide a relatively systematic and objective review of the current state of research and important arguments on central exercise fatigue, and finds that hotspots research is focused on four areas: knee extensors, locomotor exercise, heat stress and gender. Furthermore, supplements, the central nervous system and transcranial magnetic stimulation are at the frontier of research. This study provides researchers with valuable guidance in the selection of research topics.