Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine therapies for knee osteoarthritis: a visual analytics analysis of the research domain

Introduction Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) affects 528 million people globally, with prevalence projected to rise by 74.9% by 2050. Traditional treatments face limitations in long-term safety and efficacy, driving interest in complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine therapies (CAIMT) for symptom relief and disease management. This article present an analysis of this research domain.Methods A systematic search of Web of Science (1994-2024) identified 1,389 publications using CAIMT-related keywords. Bibliometric tools analyzed publication volume, citations, authorship, institutional collaborations, geographical distribution, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic evolution. Metrics assessed academic impact, and Bradford's Law identified core journals.Results Publications surged post-2010, peaking in 2022 (123 papers). China (345 publications) and the USA (282 publications) dominated output. International co-authorship comprised 22.46%. Bennell K. L. (n = 39), Hinman R. S. (n = 29), and Henriksen M. (n = 13) were top authors. The University of Melbourne led institutional contributions. Keyword analysis revealed eight clusters: such as Pain management, exercise/rehabilitation, Nutritional interventions, Emerging therapies. Thematic Evolution: Focus shifted from singular therapies pre-2010 to integrative strategies post-2020, emphasizing personalized and evidence-based approaches.Conclusion CAIMT offers promising adjunctive strategies for KOA management, particularly for aging populations seeking non-pharmacological options. Future research should prioritize personalized, integrative approaches and rigorous evidence generation to refine clinical guidelines.