Home⇛Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal⇛vol. 14 no. 1 (2026)

Scientific Mapping of Exercise Integration in Chronic Disease Management: Systemic Pathways toward Equitable and Sustainable Population Health

Christie Lynne Codod

Discipline: health studies

 

Abstract:

Background: Most people recognize exercise as a central strategy in chronic disease management; however, the global structure and evolution of research in this field remain insufficiently understood. This study presents a scientometric analysis of 14,517 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus from 1938 to 2024 to examine publication trends, intellectual structure, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution within the Exercise-is-Medicine paradigm and integrated care. Methods: Bibliometric methods using Bibliometrix (R) and VOSviewer were applied to analyze citation patterns, co-authorship linkages, and keyword cooccurrence. Results: Results demonstrate sustained growth in research output, with strong concentration in high-income countries, reflecting persistent global inequalities in knowledge production and influence. Citation structures are predominantly anchored in cardiovascular and respiratory clinical guidelines, indicating disciplinary dominance that shapes research priorities and standards. Core themes remain focused on pulmonary rehabilitation and cardiometabolic conditions. At the same time, emerging areas such as digital health, self-management, and primary care integration signal a shift toward implementation-oriented and population-health approaches. These trends indicate a transition from clinically bound rehabilitation models to more integrated care frameworks. Conclusion: Strengthening global collaboration and advancing scalable, system-level implementation strategies are essential to ensure equitable integration of exercise into healthcare systems worldwide.



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