Every year, millions of workers are affected by repetitive strain injury (RSI) and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), which affect muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons due to repetitive strain and overuse. Through bibliometric analysis on RSI/WMSD, it is possible to identify knowledge gaps, expanding areas of research, and emerging trends that may guide future studies and contribute to the advancement of the field.

Conduct a bibliometric analysis of primary studies on RSI/WMSDs at work and physiotherapies.

The Boolean search strategy ("Occupational Repetitive Strain Injuries" OR "Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders" OR "WMSDs" OR "work-related injuries" OR "Occupational injuries" OR "Repetitive Strain Injury" AND “Physio therapy” OR “Physiotherapy”) was performed in March and May 2023 in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, applying a filter for original articles. The records were saved in Plain Text and BibiTeX format and analyzed in R (version 4.2.2) using the "bibliometrix" package (version 4.1.2).

We identified 4.543 articles in the Web of Science and 634 articles in Scopus, with a total of 12.041 authors involved, published between 1952 and 2023. The growth rate was 6,53% per year, with an exponential increase from 1994 onward. The studies were published in 1093 scientific journals, with American Journal of Industrial Medicine magazine standing out (n = 368). Barbara Silverstein, from the University of Michigan, EUA, had the highest number of publications (n=37), being recognized as a reference in the areas of worker health and work safety. The article entitled "Comparison of Selfreport Video Observation and Direct Measurement Methods for Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorder Physical Risk Factors" by Silverstein et al. (2001) had the highest number of citations (n = 213). The study compared three methods of assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders and found that direct measurement by electromyography was more accurate than video analysis and self-report questionnaires. The co-occurrence network analysis of the authors' keywords resulted in the formation of 2 clusters, with emphasis on the themes of workers’ compensation ("injury", "work-related injury", "prevention") and occupational injuries (“work-related musculoskeletal disorders”, "ergonomics", "physical therapy").

Bibliometric analysis of primary studies on RSI/WMSDs at work revealed a marked increase in the number of publications in 1994, evidencing the growing interest related to worker safety and health. This growth in scientific production highlights the importance of research in this field and highlights the relevance of the topic in the academic and professional community.

Evidence-based bibliometric indicators can guide researchers and health professionals in identifying gaps and more influential themes on comprehensive preventive and physiotherapeutic measures in all aspects of the work environment, aiming to reduce the number of workers affected and away from their work activities.