Global Research on Adaptive Sports for Persons with Disabilities: A Bibliometric Analysis of Trends, Networks, and Thematic Evolution

Adaptive sports promote physical health, social inclusion, and empowerment among persons with disabilities, yet the field’s rapid growth has produced a fragmented literature whose intellectual structure and evolution remain insufficiently understood. To address this gap, this study mapped global research on adaptive sports for persons with disabilities through a bibliometric analysis of 277 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025. VOSviewer and Biblioshiny were used to examine publication growth, influential contributors and journals, collaboration networks, and thematic development. The literature grew at an annual rate of 30.43%, while the thematic emphasis shifted from performance-oriented research toward multidimensional perspectives centered on inclusion, participation, equity, quality of life, and well-being. By integrating evidence on growth, networks, and thematic change, this study clarifies the field’s knowledge structure and identifies directions for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to advance inclusive sport research and practice.