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. 2026 Mar 6;105(10):e47732. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000047732

First systematic review on dance and health exploring global research trends and hotspots: A bibliometric and visualized study

Zeng-Guang Duan a, Zhejian Xiong b, Yu Jin c,*
PMCID: PMC12975218  PMID: 41790635

Abstract

Background:

Dance, a synthesis of physical movement and artistic expression, carries the beauty of fusion between music and dance, regardless of age. Its potential as a health-promoting activity has garnered substantial interest. Yet, there exists a research gap in exploring the current trends and hotspots in the realm of dance and health.

Methods:

This study analyzed literature from 2009 to 2023, sourced from the Web of Science database. Utilizing CiteSpace VI, the analysis included fundamental information, keywords, and co-citation analysis.

Results:

The study encompassed 1625 publications. There has been a gradual increase in annual publications, with significant contributions from the United States and the United Kingdom, indicating strong international collaboration. The most prolific journal and research area were the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and public environmental occupational health, respectively. Research trends are predominantly centered around the impact of structured dance on physical and mental health and the development and application of innovative dance technologies. Notable hotspots include the connection between dance and health indicators (such as energy expenditure and bone mineral density), as well as its relationship with neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson disease and mild cognitive impairment).

Conclusion:

This bibliometric analysis is the first to map out the trends and hotspots in dance and health research comprehensively. It provides valuable insights for future research endeavors and assists scholars in navigating the landscape of this interdisciplinary field.

Keywords: bibliometric analysis, CiteSpace, dance, health

1. Introduction

Health is a topic of constant concern for humans. With the evolution of cities and the growth of urbanization, lifestyle changes have led to new health issues, including poor mental health and a rising prevalence of various chronic diseases.[1] Interventions in lifestyle, including increased physical activity, can help to maintain health span.[2] Dance, blending physical movement, creative expression, and social interaction, stands out as an effective countermeasure to these challenges.[3] Extensive research highlights the substantial benefits of dance for both physical and mental health. Notably, dance improves physical health by enhancing aerobic fitness and limb flexibility,[4] while also enriching emotional well-being and social connections. It is also linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia.[5] Further studies underscore dance’s positive impact on the brain and nervous system, showcasing its potential in treating both physical and mental health conditions.[6,7] Dance has beneficial effects on public health and influences the bodies of its practitioners. However, there is a lack of relevant quantitative bibliometric analysis summarizing the research progress of dance and health in recent years.

Bibliometric analysis utilizes mathematical and statistical methods to evaluate and quantify publication data. This analysis helps identify key information, such as keywords, references, and co-citation analysis, while revealing global trends and research hotspots.[8–10] In recent years, bibliometrics have been applied in various research fields, such as aquatic exercise, high-intensity interval training, and traditional Chinese exercises.[11–13] The findings of the bibliometric analysis can assist researchers in identifying current research concerns, thereby informing future research directions. Given the methodological advantages, the application of bibliometrics holds considerable significance within the dance and health research domain. Our study endeavors to fill this lacuna, meticulously analyzing the pivotal trends and cutting-edge frontiers in this interdisciplinary field.

2. Data collection and materials

2.1. Data collection and screening process

The data underpinning this article were sourced from the Web of Science (WOS) database. Comprehensive details about the data source and the employed methodology are delineated in Table 1. We applied exclusion criteria to the literature, filtering out documents based on factors such as language constraints, document types, duplicate publications, and articles not pertinent to our study. Given the reliance on secondary literature sources in this research, the necessity for ethical committee approval was deemed nonapplicable.

Table 1.

Data strategy and requisite thresholds in CiteSpace.

Type Content
Data source Web of Science (WOS) database, SCI-EXPENDED
Time span January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2023
Document types Article, review
Retrieved strategy TS=(“DANC*”) AND TS=(“HEALTH”)
Language style English
Indicators Threshold Definition Reference
BC – To qualify the academic impact of the citation networks [8,10]
Burst – To display the keywords that have significant changes in a short time [10]
Count – To indicate the greater the relevance to the topic [10]
Modularity Q (Q value) >0.3 To reflect the clusters structure are significant [10,14]
Silhouette (S value) >0.5 To represent the cluster classes are reasonable [10,14,15]
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TS (topic), including title, keywords, and abstract.

BC = betweenness centrality.

2.2. Analysis tool and thresholds

CiteSpace VI (version 6.2.6, 64-bit, Drexel University, Philadelphia) serves as the primary tool for analyzing the collected literature data in this study to generate keywords and co-cited references. Aligning with established metrological research methodologies, CiteSpace allows for the classification of nodes into various categories based on specific topics.[14–16] The thresholds applied in this research are detailed in Table 1. Additionally, to augment our visual analysis, we utilize VOSviewer (version 1.6.19; Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands) and SCImago Graphica (Beta 1.0.38, SCImago Lab, Albolote, Granada, Spain) to highlight collaborative efforts among nations.

2.3. Bibliometric and visualized analysis

First, based on the WOS citation report, we have acquired the analysis of general information in the field of dance and health, encompassing annual publication output, relevant journals, and associated disciplines. Following this, the data from the WOS database were imported to the bibliometric software to produce visualized results and quantitative analysis for researchers. The time slicing parameter is configured from 2009 to 2023, with each slice representing a year. The node type is adaptable based on the research focus, encompassing options such as keywords and cited references. The chosen link strength algorithm is “cosine,” and for pruning, the “pathfinder” method is utilized. To elucidate emerging trends and focal points, keyword and co-reference analyses were systematically conducted. The resultant image is then rendered for the purpose of result interpretation. Furthermore, the collaborative networks of nations were constructed using VOSviewer and Scimago Graphica. These tools were employed for data generation and visualization, respectively.

3. Results

3.1. Fundamental information analysis

3.1.1. The trends of annual publication

An examination of the period from 2009 to 2023 reveals a total of 1625 publications pertinent to dance and health, comprising 1361 articles and 264 reviews. As delineated in Figure 1A, there is a discernible gradual increase in the volume of publications in this domain. Notably, prior to 2018, the growth in the number of articles was relatively modest, which then accelerated significantly, culminating in ~200 publications published annually in the last 3 years alone. The dataset also indicates an annual fluctuation in publication frequency, ranging from a minimum of 34 in 2010 to a peak of 226 in 2021. Employing unary linear regression, this trend can be modeled by the equation y = 13.489x − 27,086, illustrating a consistent upward trajectory. The considerable surge in both publications and citations over the past 15 years has significantly piqued the interest of the research and scholarly community.

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

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The fundamental information in dance and health. (A) The trends of annual publications. (B) The geographic distribution and international collaboration network.

3.1.2. The geographic distribution

The analysis of country distribution aims to highlight the level of engagement from different nations in this field. The size of bubble indicates the number of publications by country (Fig. 1B). Data retrieval reveals that the majority of publications are concentrated in the United States (487), the United Kingdom (256), and China (226), collectively accounting for over half of the total publications, thus marking them as the most prolific contributors to this research area. It also illustrates the international collaboration network, with the United States emerging as the central node. Notably, robust collaborations are evident between the United States and China, denoted by thicker connecting lines. Furthermore, the results indicate a significant level of cooperation between the United States and other countries, underlining their influential roles and strong field connections in this field.

3.1.3. The journals of publication

In our analysis of journal publications, we focused on the frequency of publications and compiled a list of the top 5 journals with the highest total citations, as shown in Table 2. This approach sheds light on the journals that have attracted substantial attention in this research field. In total, contributions were made across 715 distinct journals. Notably, the most prolific among them include the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (61 publications), Frontiers in Psychology (51 publications), Arts in Psychotherapy (41 publications), Medical Problems of Performing Artists (31 publications), and PLoS One (31 publications). These journals span various categories (Q1–Q4; see Table 2) and predominantly feature research themes intertwined with art, psychology, and health. Publication quality in this field varies, indicating a need for further research to enhance research quality.

Table 2.

The top 5 journals of publication in dance and health.

Journal name Count % IF/Q
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 61 3.754 –
Frontiers in Psychology 51 3.138 3.8/Q1
Arts in Psychotherapy 41 2.523 1.8/Q3
Medical Problems of Performing Artists 31 1.908 0.9/Q4
PLoS One 31 1.908 3.7/Q2
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Data from the 2023 edition of Journal Citation Reports.

IF = impact factor, Q = quartile category.

3.1.4. The research areas

The comprehensive analysis and synthesis of research areas encompass a total of 113 fields. The top 5 research areas, as listed in Table 3, include public environmental occupational health (308 publications), psychology (223 publications), sport sciences (185 publications), rehabilitation (139 publications), and general internal medicine (127 publications). The exploration of dance’s impact on health represents a multifaceted and integrated academic field, predominantly rooted in public and occupational health. This field synergizes various disciplines, notably medicine and psychology, and offers theoretical and practical underpinnings for sports science and rehabilitation therapies. The confluence of these diverse academic perspectives fosters a holistic understanding of the subject matter.

Table 3.

The top 5 disciplines of research field.

Research field Count %
Public environmental occupational health 308 18.954
Psychology 223 13.723
Sport sciences 185 11.385
Rehabilitation 139 8.554
General internal medicine 127 7.815
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3.2. Keywords analysis

We methodically extracted and organized the keywords related to our research topic, leading to the creation of diverse visual representations. These include the keywords co-occurrence network (as shown in Fig. 2A and Table 4), a keywords cloud (Fig. 2B), knowledge map clusters (Fig. 2C), and a burst term map (Fig. 2D). Each of these visual results offers a unique perspective, collectively providing a comprehensive view of the thematic landscape, emerging hotspots, and dynamic interactions within the field.

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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The knowledge map of keywords. (A) The co-occurrence network. (B) Keywords cloud. (C) The cluster of keywords. (D) The top 25 strongest citation bursts of keywords.

Table 4.

The top 20 keywords with high frequency and BC.

Rank High frequency High-BC
Keywords Count Keywords BC
1 physical activity 321 behavior 0.11
2 exercise 222 body composition 0.09
3 quality of life 204 bone mineral density 0.08
4 older adults 121 adults 0.07
5 people 110 randomized controlled trial 0.07
6 mental health 108 adolescents 0.07
7 prevalence 107 individuals 0.07
8 children 101 management 0.07
9 risk 101 drug use 0.07
10 intervention 98 balance 0.06
11 adults 321 ballet dancers 0.06
12 performance 222 care 0.06
13 balance 93 movement 0.06
14 program 92 body image 0.06
15 depression 84 performance 0.05
16 randomized controlled trial 73 therapy 0.05
17 interventions 71 overweight 0.05
18 therapy 67 energy expenditure 0.05
19 impact 65 association 0.05
20 adolescents 65 exercise 0.04
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BC = betweenness centrality.

3.2.1. Co-occurrence and concept

Co-occurrence keywords serve as a lens to discern the focal points of a study or researcher, effectively mapping the global hotspots of research interest. To refine the accuracy of keyword co-occurrence data, we excluded terms related to our retrieval strategy (e.g., “dance” and “health”) and constructed a figure of the top keywords, which can be seen in Figure 2A. To facilitate a more thorough analysis of keyword frequency, a word cloud visualization was generated, revealing the top 5 most prevalent keywords: “physical activity,” “exercise,” “quality of life,” “older adults,” and “people,” in that order (Fig. 2B). Concurrently, this is also reflected in Table 4. By considering both citation frequency and betweenness centrality in our analysis, we identified key terms such as “exercise,” “adults,” “randomized controlled trial,” “adolescents,” “balance,” “performance,” and “therapy.” These terms provide an insightful snapshot of the prevailing research themes and methodological approaches in the field.

3.2.2. Keywords clusters analysis

In our study, we performed a detailed cluster analysis of the keywords, as illustrated in Figure 2C, to pinpoint emerging areas of research. The analysis yielded a modularity value (Q) of 0.4565 and a silhouette score (S) of 0.746, indicating a well-defined cluster structure. We successfully categorized the clusters into distinct groups, labeled #0 through #11. The largest cluster focuses on energy expenditure (EE; cluster 0, size = 68, S = 0.697), followed by dance movement therapy (DMT; cluster 1, size = 58, S = 0.703), Parkinson disease (PD; cluster 2, size = 46, S = 0.751), reliability (cluster 3, size = 44, S = 0.674), and bone mineral density (BMD; cluster 4, size = 40, S = 0.844), among others. Notably, the research emphasis in the field of dance and health is varied, targeting both the general public (#5 public health) and specific populations, including the elderly (#2 and #7), those involved in sex work (#6), and abuse (#9). It also addresses related diseases such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI, #7), aspects of physical health (#0, #4, and #10), and research methodologies (#1, #3, #8 therapy, and #11 case reporting).

3.2.3. Keywords with the strongest citation bursts

The intensity of keywords during specific periods can be indicative of research hotspots for those times. Keywords that emerge rapidly within a short timeframe represent “keyword bursts,” highlighting them as prominent research hotspots.[9] In our analysis, we examined the keywords with the strongest citation bursts (top 25) in the field from 2009 to 2023, as depicted in Figure 2D. The “Begin” and “End” years denote the duration of these bursts. The term “burst strength” describes the intensity of citation bursts, indicating a higher frequency of change over a specific period. Keywords such as “energy expenditure,” “obesity,” “prevalence,” and “randomized controlled trial (RCT)” exhibited the highest burst strengths, with values surpassing 5.00. Intriguingly, “interactive dance” (strength = 4.35), “Argentine tango” (strength = 4.31), and “ballet” (strength = 4.04) have emerged as leading approaches in dance interventions. Notably, “obesity” and “interactive dance” remained influential for over 7 years, from 2009 to 2023. Since 2019, the association between dance and MCI (strength = 3.64) has gained increasing attention, especially among neuroscientists.

3.3. Analysis of co-cited reference

3.3.1. Co-occurrence analysis

Co-citation analysis involves identifying instances where 2 articles are simultaneously cited by a third reference, thereby establishing a co-citational link between the 2 articles.[16] This method has become increasingly relevant with the growth of scientific research, forming an interrelated and expanding system that mirrors the inherent dynamics of scientific progress. It underscores the accumulation, continuity, and interdisciplinary nature of various disciplines. Table 5 showcases the top 10 publications with the highest citations in the field of dance and health.[17–26] Among these influential references, 7 are reviews, 2 are randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 1 is a clinical trial. These key publications focus on research topics, such as dance interventions, DMT, older adults, and PD. Notably, the most cited papers, especially those based on systematic reviews, highlight the significant impact of dance – regardless of its style – on improving muscular strength, endurance, balance, and other aspects of physical functional fitness in the elderly.[17] Additionally, there is a recognized need for further analysis of dance’s effects on mental health.

Table 5.

The top 10 references related to dance and health by frequency.

Rank Count BC Title Type Publication IF Author (yr)
1 51 0.04 The effectiveness of dance interventions to improve older adults’ health: a systematic literature review[17] Review* Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 1.5 Hwang and Braun (2015)
2 45 0.03 Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes. A meta-analysis update[18] Review Frontiers in Psychology 3.8 Koch et al (2019)
3 43 0.02 Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes: a meta-analysis[19] Review Arts in Psychotherapy 1.8 Koch et al (2014)
4 41 0.01 Six months of dance intervention enhances postural, sensorimotor, and cognitive performance in elderly without affecting cardio-respiratory functions[20] RCT Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 4.8 Kattenstroth et al (2013)
5 36 0.05 The effectiveness of dance interventions on physical health outcomes compared to other forms of physical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis[21] Review Sports Medicine 9.8 Fong Yan et al (2018)
6 28 0.02 A comparison of Irish set dancing and exercises for people with Parkinson’s disease: a phase II feasibility study[22] CT BMC Geriatrics 4.1 Volpe et al (2013)
7 27 0.06 Dance for people with Parkinson disease: what is the evidence telling us?[23] Review Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 4.3 Shanahan et al (2015)
8 27 0.01 Physical benefits of dancing for healthy older adults: a review[24] Review Journal of Aging and Physical Activity 1.5 Keogh et al (2009)
9 26 0.02 Effects of dance on movement control in Parkinson’s disease: a comparison of Argentine tango and American ballroom[25] RCT Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 3.5 Hackney and Earhart (2009)
10 25 0.01 Dance as an intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis[26] Review Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 8.2 Sharp and Hewitt (2014)
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BC = betweenness centrality, CT = clinical trial, RCT = randomized controlled trial.

*

Review: literature review, including systematic review and meta-analysis.

3.3.2. Co-cited reference clusters analysis

The co-citation function in CiteSpace constructed networks of the cited references and established network models. These networks were divided into (co-citation) clusters of references, which can elucidate the research trends in the field. Our analysis yielded a Q value of 0.8583 and an S value of 0.951, signifying a robust and reliable clustering. The resulting network of cited references was segmented into distinct clusters, with the largest 15 clusters illustrated in Figure 3A. These clusters were further categorized to reflect the focal trends in the research:

Figure 3.

Figure 3.

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The knowledge map of co-cited reference. (A) The cluster diagram. (B) term map with the top 25 strongest citation bursts.

  1. Intervention methods: This includes Latin dance (cluster 0, size = 79, S = 0.92), active video games (cluster 3, size = 50, S = 0.97), exercise therapy (cluster 8, size = 24, S = 1.0), and creative arts therapy (CAT; cluster 16, size = 6, S = 0.996).

  2. Related diseases: Key clusters in this category are PD (cluster 1, size = 69, S = 0.922), substance use (cluster 9, size = 21, S = 1.0), and autism spectrum disorders (cluster 11, size = 16, S = 0.986).

  3. Health indicators: Clusters here focus on mental health (cluster 2, size = 58, S = 0.899), health-related quality (cluster 4, size = 37, S = 0.905), psychosocial belief (cluster 10, size = 20, S = 0.98), bone health parameter (cluster 12, size = 14, S = 1.0), and weight gain (cluster 17, size = 6, S = 0.983).

  4. Methods and objects: This category includes placebo (cluster 5, size = 34, S = 0.982), prospective studies (cluster 6, size = 29, S = 0.986), and masses (cluster 7, size = 29, S = 1.0). Each cluster represents a unique trend within the dance and health research landscape, highlighting the diversity and depth of the field.

3.3.3. Co-cited reference with the strongest citation bursts

The top 25 co-cited references spanning from 2009 to 2023 are depicted in Figure 3B, which indicates the emerging trends or increasing interests in the field. Generally, the most co-cited references usually got the strongest citation bursts. Notably, the reference with the highest burst strength, starting from 2015, is attributed to Keogh et al (strength = 10.12).[24] This is followed by significant citation bursts from Eyigor et al (strength = 9.21)[27] and multiple works by Hackney and Earhart (strengths = 9.01, 8.33, and 7.84, respectively).[25,28,29] The sustained high citation rate of 3 articles[21,30,31] and 1 report[32] indicates their ongoing relevance and potentially signifies prevailing research trends of DMT within the field. This pattern of citation bursts reflects the evolving focal points and influential works in dance and health research over the past decade and more.

4. Discussion

4.1. General information for dance and health

In this study, we present for the first time a comprehensive analysis and visualization of trends and hotspots in the universal research on dance and health, employing bibliometrics and knowledge mapping techniques. Over the last 15 years, there has been a steady increase in publications in this area, highlighting its growing significance. The research is predominantly led by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, showcasing their central role and collaborative efforts in this domain. The predominant journals for these studies focus on art, psychology, and health, with research spanning multiple disciplines but primarily centering around sports science and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the quality of articles in this field needs to be enhanced.

4.2. Research trends for dance and health

Through the analysis of co-cited references, we identified the research trends in dance and health. The focus is increasingly on the structured dance, as well as new dance forms that incorporate emerging technologies. To validate these findings, researchers often summarize previous studies and design RCTs and clinical trials to explore the effects of dance on physical and mental health. This experimental focus was confirmed by cluster analyses (#5 and #6, Figure 3A), validating the scientific rigor of these methods. Structured dance, such as international ballroom dancing (Table 5), is an important nonpharmacological approach that can benefit cognitive functions in the elders.[31] As one of the dance styles among them, Latin dance (#0, Fig. 3A) has been demonstrated to promote physical health (#12, cardiovascular, muscle strength, flexibility, and balance) and mental health (#2, #10, stress, mood, sociality, and cognition),[33] benefiting various age groups, whether it is teenagers[34] or the elderly population.[35] For instance, 10 weeks of Latin dance training class can improve the turning behavior of PD participants.[36] Other dance styles, such as Irish set dancing (Table 5), showed superior results to common group in gait, balance, and movement disorder.[22] In addition, innovative forms of dance have also received widespread attention, such as active video games (#3, Fig. 3A), CAT (#16, Fig. 3A), and DMT (Table 5, Fig. 3B). It has been reported that DMT is an effective measure in the treatment of depression and MCI.[30,31] Notably, the new modes of dance (#3 and #16), incorporating into video games, have shown increased self-efficacy and enjoyment.[37] In addition, the use of CAT in treating mental disorders and the standardization of its approaches are crucial for intervention evaluation.[38] It reminded us that we should pay more attention to the impact of new technologies in dance on human physical and mental health in the future.

4.3. Research hotspots for dance and health

Keywords related to co-occurrence, cluster, and burst analysis have highlighted the developmental trajectory and research hotspots in this field. Over the past 15 years, two emerging focuses in dance and health research were identified in line with the comprehensive analysis of the latest keywords; details are listed as follows:

  1. Indicators: EE, BMD, and body composition can be determined (Fig. 2C, Table 4). Many athletes in esthetic sports are at risk of energy imbalance, causing abnormalities in low body weight and other indicators. An environment where culture may instill a value that thinness is required puts dancers at increased risk for energy deficiency. From this, EE and body composition have defined the research focus. The EE and energy balance are essential for maintaining the demands of training, performance, and recovery.[39] It was reported that competitive ballroom dancers were dancing at >80% of their maximum oxygen consumption.[40] Therefore, vocational dancers may be at risk of numerous health and performance impairments associated with negative energy balance, particularly during periods of scheduled training. In addition, issues such as reduced BMD in dancers have emerged as significant topics. It is reported that both female and male dancers displayed lower BMD values at all anatomical sites[41–44]; that is to say, vocational dancers can be a risk population to develop osteoporosis. It is important that dancers seek dietary advice from qualified specialists to maintain adequate nutrition and increase bone mass, since the pressure to maintain a low body weight and low body fat levels is high.

  2. Population: This field also emphasizes the health issues faced by specific populations, including those with MCI, PD, and individuals involved in sex work (Fig. 2C–D, Table 4). The topic of sex work is significant in research concerning dance and health, primarily because the dance community may encounter various issues related to sexual health, the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, and mental health.[45,46] Another group of people receiving attention is those with PD. For instance, dance movements contributed to significant improvements in movement (balance and gait), executive functions (cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control), and the quality of life in PD.[23,47] It provides preliminary guidance to assist clinicians when implementing dance programs for people with PD, aiming to expand the variety of intervention methods. Notably, MCI has become a prominent keyword in the field (Fig. 2D), representing a transitional stage between healthy aging and dementia.[48] RCTs have shown that aerobic dance can improve episodic memory and processing speed in elderly individuals with MCI,[49] and the effect is that greater benefits were achieved than in multimodal physical therapy, mainly reducing the risk of conversion to dementia.[50] Meta-analysis also supported a conclusion that nonpharmacological dance interventions slow down the cognitive deterioration of elder populations with MCI.[51] To sum up, dance intervention has proven effective in improving motor and cognitive functions in neurodegenerative diseases. Future research should focus on scientifically designed studies with large samples, long-term comprehensive interventions, and standardized reporting criteria to further understand the effects.

5. Limitation

This study, while comprehensive, is subject to several limitations that warrant acknowledgment and further exploration. Primarily, our research was confined to sourcing articles and publications exclusively from the WOS database. This approach may have inadvertently excluded relevant and high-quality articles available in other comprehensive databases, such as PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Such an exclusion potentially limits the breadth of our analysis.

Second, the restriction to English-language publications in our data collection process poses another limitation. This language barrier likely omits significant research contributions available in other languages, thereby constraining the scope of our findings to predominantly English-speaking contexts.

Finally, the absence of universally accepted standards for assessing the quality of the literature we compiled is a notable limitation. This underscores the necessity for a more thorough evaluation of article quality in future studies. Such an evaluation should aim to include top-tier literature, ensuring a more robust and comprehensive understanding of the research landscape in the field of dance and health.

Recognizing these limitations is crucial for the interpretation of our findings and sets the stage for future research endeavors that can build upon and extend the work presented here.

6. Conclusion

This article represents the first comprehensive overview of the field of dance and health based on an extensive analysis of publications from 2009 to 2023. Our study offers a detailed understanding of the general trends and hotspots within this domain through meticulous bibliometric analysis. The findings reveal a rapidly evolving landscape, signaling a phase of significant advancement and sustainable growth in dance and health research.

The research trends identified in our study mainly focus on the impact of structured dance on both physical and mental health. There is also a growing emphasis on the development and application of innovative dance technologies, including CAT and DMT. Additionally, research on the connection between dance and health indicators (such as EE and BMD), as well as its relationship with neurodegenerative diseases (such as PD and MCI), has become significant hotspots.

In conclusion, this research provides a foundational understanding of the current state of dance and health studies, highlighting the significant strides made in this area and identifying potential avenues for future research. The intersection of dance with health disciplines presents an exciting and dynamic area of study, ripe with opportunities for further exploration and innovation.

Author contributions

Funding acquisition: Zeng-Guang Duan, Yu Jin.

Data curation: Yu Jin.

Visualization: Zeng-Guang Duan, Yu Jin.

Writing – original draft: Yu Jin.

Writing – review & editing: Zeng-Guang Duan, Zhejian Xiong, Yu Jin.

Abbreviations:

BMD
bone mineral density
CAT
creative arts therapy
DMT
dance movement therapy
EE
energy expenditure
MCI
mild cognitive impairment
PD
Parkinson disease
RCT
randomized controlled trial
WOS
Web of Science

This work was supported by the 2023 Annual Open Project of Sichuan Provincial Expert Workstation at Chengdu Sports University and Innovational Project of Zheng Huaixian Bone Injury Research Institute for Sports Medicine and Health Research in 2023 to 2024 (No. SCZJJCC06), and the Sichuan Provincial Philosophy and Social Science Foundation (No. SCJJ24ND205).

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

How to cite this article: Duan Z-G, Xiong Z, Jin Y. First systematic review on dance and health exploring global research trends and hotspots: A bibliometric and visualized study. Medicine 2026;105:10(e47732).

Contributor Information

Zeng-Guang Duan, Email: 18581882221@163.com.

Zhejian Xiong, Email: xzj55389168@163.com.

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