Swimming Toward Recovery: Mapping Research on Dolphin Therapy and Cerebral Palsy through Bibliometric Analysis

Swimming Toward Recovery: Mapping Research on Dolphin Therapy and Cerebral Palsy through Bibliometric Analysis | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Systematic Review Swimming Toward Recovery: Mapping Research on Dolphin Therapy and Cerebral Palsy through Bibliometric Analysis Raj Singh, Kedar Ghorpade, Priyanka Patel, Soumen Barik, Mayank Singh This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8730018/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT) has gained increasing attention as a complementary intervention for children with cerebral palsy. However, the scientific literature remains poorly mapped and conceptually inconsistent, frequently conflating this pediatric neurodevelopmental condition with adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders—particularly Parkinson’s disease—thereby raising concerns about clinical relevance and theoretical coherence. Data and Methods: We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 373 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus (1993–2025). Using a systematic keyword-based search strategy, we analyzed publication trends, collaboration networks, institutional productivity, and thematic evolution. Data were processed and visualized using Bibliometrix (via Biblioshiny) and VOSviewer, employing co-occurrence analysis, overlay visualization, and strategic diagram mapping to delineate the intellectual structure and developmental trajectory of the field. Results Publications increased annually by 11.21%, peaking at 40 in 2024, with strong collaboration (6.64 co-authors/article) and 24.9% international co-authorship. Research is led by a few authors (LEE, PHIL-HYU; ZOGALA, DAVID) and institutions (Yonsei University; UC San Diego). Most papers appear in neurology journals like Movement Disorders and Parkinsonism and Related Disorders . Keyword analysis identified three clusters: clinical studies, preclinical mechanistic research, and Parkinson’s biomarker work. Temporal patterns shifted from clinical (2016–2018) to mechanistic (2019–2020) to translational (2021–2022). Thematic mapping revealed underdeveloped female- and sex-specific research compared to motor-related male-focused studies. Conclusion Despite growing output, the field is misaligned framed through adult Parkinson’s paradigms despite targeting children with a non-progressive condition. The neglect of pediatric specificity, sex differences, and experiential dimensions limits clinical relevance. Future research must prioritize developmentally appropriate, patient-centered, and methodologically rigorous inquiry to determine whether dolphin therapy offers genuine therapeutic value or remains an unproven intervention shaped more by narrative than evidence. Dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT) cerebral palsy bibliometric analysis Bibliometrix VOSviewer Parkinson’s disease neurorehabilitation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files AppendixtablesandFigures.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 13 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 12 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 23 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 19 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 10 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 10 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 29 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8730018","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Systematic Review","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":594840500,"identity":"21ee4d76-1116-4c30-aeb0-6221d01d4deb","order_by":0,"name":"Raj Singh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"KLE University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Raj","middleName":"","lastName":"Singh","suffix":""},{"id":594840501,"identity":"139ec5f4-7120-4063-80d4-e1ed33b23518","order_by":1,"name":"Kedar Ghorpade","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"KLE 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Neurosurgery","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT), cerebral palsy, bibliometric analysis, Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, Parkinson’s disease, neurorehabilitation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8730018/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8730018/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDolphin-assisted therapy (DAT) has gained increasing attention as a complementary intervention for children with cerebral palsy. However, the scientific literature remains poorly mapped and conceptually inconsistent, frequently conflating this pediatric neurodevelopmental condition with adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders\u0026mdash;particularly Parkinson\u0026rsquo;s disease\u0026mdash;thereby raising concerns about clinical relevance and theoretical coherence.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData and Methods:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 373 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus (1993\u0026ndash;2025). Using a systematic keyword-based search strategy, we analyzed publication trends, collaboration networks, institutional productivity, and thematic evolution. Data were processed and visualized using Bibliometrix (via Biblioshiny) and VOSviewer, employing co-occurrence analysis, overlay visualization, and strategic diagram mapping to delineate the intellectual structure and developmental trajectory of the field.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublications increased annually by 11.21%, peaking at 40 in 2024, with strong collaboration (6.64 co-authors/article) and 24.9% international co-authorship. Research is led by a few authors (LEE, PHIL-HYU; ZOGALA, DAVID) and institutions (Yonsei University; UC San Diego). Most papers appear in neurology journals like \u003cem\u003eMovement Disorders\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eParkinsonism and Related Disorders\u003c/em\u003e. Keyword analysis identified three clusters: clinical studies, preclinical mechanistic research, and Parkinson\u0026rsquo;s biomarker work. Temporal patterns shifted from clinical (2016\u0026ndash;2018) to mechanistic (2019\u0026ndash;2020) to translational (2021\u0026ndash;2022). Thematic mapping revealed underdeveloped female- and sex-specific research compared to motor-related male-focused studies.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite growing output, the field is misaligned framed through adult Parkinson\u0026rsquo;s paradigms despite targeting children with a non-progressive condition. The neglect of pediatric specificity, sex differences, and experiential dimensions limits clinical relevance. Future research must prioritize developmentally appropriate, patient-centered, and methodologically rigorous inquiry to determine whether dolphin therapy offers genuine therapeutic value or remains an unproven intervention shaped more by narrative than evidence.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Swimming Toward Recovery: Mapping Research on Dolphin Therapy and Cerebral Palsy through Bibliometric Analysis","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-23 13:09:14","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8730018/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-03-13T09:41:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-12T14:58:20+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-23T12:11:45+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"301918998546033430733860840990975293733","date":"2026-02-21T10:41:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"52666752478604437792083979309223270347","date":"2026-02-20T09:19:36+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-19T10:26:56+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-02-10T13:55:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-02-10T13:51:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery","date":"2026-01-29T09:20:09+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"the-egyptian-journal-of-neurology-psychiatry-and-neurosurgery","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"ejnp","sideBox":"Learn more about [The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery](http://ejnpn.springeropen.com)","snPcode":"41983","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/41983/3","title":"The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"10637e02-97e9-4683-a362-ee74384df2a6","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 23rd, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"in-revision","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-30T20:09:14+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-23 13:09:14","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8730018","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8730018","identity":"rs-8730018","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}