The global scientific evolution of cardiopulmonary performance and threshold research in sports sciences during 2010–2025: a comparative bibliometric analysis based on web of science and scopus

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Soyal M., Aksoy Ö., Çelik N. M., Özağır M., Gökmen Ü. C., Caba U.

FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH METRICS AND ANALYTICS, cilt.11, ss.1-18, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)

Özet

Objective: Cardiopulmonary performance and physiological threshold

parameters, including VO2max, lactate threshold, ventilatory threshold,

and respiratory compensation point, are central determinants of endurance

capacity and athletic performance. Despite the growing volume of research in

this area, the global scientific structure, conceptual evolution, and collaborative

dynamics of this literature have not been systematically synthesized. This study

aimed to reveal the global scientific evolution, publication dynamics, structural

concentration, and conceptual patterns of cardiopulmonary performance

and threshold research in sports sciences between 2010 and 2025 through a

comparative bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science and Scopus.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using records retrieved from

the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. After database

filtering, merging, and strict duplicate removal based on normalized DOI

and title matching, a final dataset of 2,745 unique original articles was

analyzed. The analytical framework included descriptive bibliometric indicators,

annual scientific production trends, compound annual growth rate (CAGR),

regression-based trend analysis, Bradford’s Law, Lotka’s Law, keyword cooccurrence

network analysis, thematic mapping, country collaboration network

analysis, and citation half-life assessment.

Results: The findings demonstrated a sustained growth trajectory in the

literature, with annual publication output increasing from 123 articles in 2010

to 276 in 2025 and a CAGR of approximately 5.53%. Regression analysis

confirmed a strong and systematic upward trend (R2 = 0.81). Bradford

distribution revealed a distinct core–periphery journal structure, with only seven

journals accounting for 31.3% of total publications. Keyword co-occurrence

and thematic map analyses showed that the field is conceptually structured

around physiological determinants, particularly exercise, oxygen consumption,

VO2max, anaerobic threshold, and ventilatory threshold. VO2max and exercise

performance emerged as motor themes, whereas ventilatory threshold and

lactate threshold appeared as basic themes, indicating their foundational but still

evolving role in the field. Country collaboration analysis demonstrated a dense and internationally connected research network, led primarily by the USA and

several European countries. Citation half-life findings indicated that the field

maintains both current relevance and cumulative continuity, with a median cited

reference year of 2018.

Conclusion: The results indicate that cardiopulmonary performance and

threshold research in sports sciences has evolved into a structurally consolidated,

conceptually centralized, and internationally collaborative scientific field.

The literature is strongly organized around physiological threshold-based

mechanisms rather than isolated performance outcomes, reflecting a mature

yet still expanding research architecture. By integrating production trends,

conceptual mapping, and collaboration patterns, this study provides a

comprehensive overview of the information structure of the field and

offers a robust framework for future research in sports physiology and

performance science.