Research hotspots and trend analysis of motor dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorder based on CiteSpace.

Researchers looked at over 2,600 studies about movement difficulties in autistic children published over 10 years. They found that research in this area has gone through different phases - first studying how movement develops, then looking at how movement problems connect to other autism traits, and now focusing on developing treatments. The research shows that movement difficulties are common in autism but often overlooked.

This bibliometric review analyzed 2,602 research articles from 2015-2025 to map the landscape of motor dysfunction research in children with autism spectrum disorder. The analysis revealed fluctuating publication volumes with peaks in 2017 and 2022, followed by projected decline. Research leadership emerged from psychology, neuroscience, and rehabilitation fields, with the United States, China, and Italy as top contributors. The study identified three distinct research phases: initial focus on developmental characteristics, followed by exploration of associations with core autism symptoms, and recent emphasis on intervention development.

Current research hotspots include developmental characteristics, neural mechanisms, and intervention strategies for motor dysfunction in autism.

Motor dysfunction assessment should be integrated into autism evaluations as it significantly impacts daily functioning. The evolution toward intervention-focused research suggests emerging treatment options may become available. Clinicians should consider motor skills in treatment planning and collaborate across disciplines including rehabilitation professionals.

This is a bibliometric analysis that maps research trends rather than evaluating intervention effectiveness. The review does not assess study quality or synthesize clinical outcomes. Findings reflect publication patterns rather than evidence strength for specific interventions.

Motor dysfunction is a prevalent yet often overlooked characteristic in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), impacting their daily functioning and overall development. This study employs bibliometric methods to systematically examine the research landscape of motor dysfunction in children with ASD, aiming to identify evolving trends, key focus areas, and future directions. Using CiteSpace software, we conducted a visual analysis of 2602 articles published between 2015 and 2025 from the Web of Science Core Collection. Key findings include: (1) The volume of publications experienced fluctuations, with peaks in 2017 and 2022, followed by a projected decline; (2) Leading contributing disciplines include psychology, neuroscience, and rehabilitation, with the United States, China, and Italy as the most productive countries; (3) Research hotspots center on developmental characteristics, neural mechanisms, and intervention strategies for motor dysfunction; (4) The research focus has evolved through three distinct phases: early emphasis on developmental traits, interim exploration of associations with core ASD symptoms, and recent prioritization of intervention development.

These findings not only map the intellectual structure and dynamic progress in this field but also provide a foundational reference for guiding future research, clinical practice, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.