Physical Activity in the Digital Era: Bibliometric Analysis of Emerging Technologies to Improve Physical and Mental Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20252378Keywords:
Personalized digital interventions, physical and psychological health, mobile-based exercise applications, intelligent wearable devices, bibliometric analysis, emerging trendsAbstract
Introduction: Digital technologies have transformed strategies for promoting health, psychological well-being, and the prevention of chronic diseases. Over the past decade, tools such as mobile applications, wearable devices, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence have enabled the development of personalized interventions to improve physical activity and overall health. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the evolution of scientific research on digital technologies applied to physical activity and their impact on physical and mental health between 2015 and 2025, identifying dominant trends, influential technologies, and research gaps. Method: A total of 5,592 records were retrieved from the Web of Science and PubMed databases. After screening and deduplication, 633 original articles were selected for bibliometric and qualitative analysis. Descriptive statistics, keyword co-occurrence, and collaboration networks were generated using R (v4.4.2) and VOSviewer (v1.6.20), complemented by a qualitative review of the 99 most-cited studies. Results: Scientific production showed steady growth, with a sharp rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile applications and mHealth dominated the field, appearing in 78% of the most-cited papers, demonstrating effectiveness in improving adherence to physical activity programs and monitoring physiological parameters. Virtual reality and exergaming emerged as promising tools for rehabilitation and motivation, while artificial intelligence showed emerging potential for personalized interventions. However, gaps remain regarding regional representation, AI integration, and longitudinal study design. Conclusions: Digital technologies have redefined the promotion of physical activity and health management, fostering personalized and scalable interventions. Although research has become increasingly consolidated, challenges persist in methodological standardization, inclusion of underrepresented regions, and long-term assessment of outcomes. These findings provide valuable guidance for future studies and the development of innovative digital health strategies.
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