Abstract

The menstrual cycle is a natural physiological process that can influence various aspects of female health, including physical performance and response to physical activity and exercise. In recent years, growing attention has been given to understanding the relationship between menstrual cycle phases and exercise, particularly in the context of physiotherapy and performance related to sports. The present research study aims to examine the research trends and thematic developments in these areas using a quantitative approach name bibliometric analysis. Relevant literature was collected from the PubMed database on March 20, 2026, using the search term “menstrual cycle and physiotherapy.” A total of 352 records were initially identified, which were later refined to 44 studies based on publication period, full-text availability, and human subject filters. The collected data were analyzed using VOS viewer software to identify keyword co-occurrence patterns and major research themes. The research findings indicate that most research studies focus on female populations, especially adults and young adults, with increasing attention toward exercise, muscle performance, and menstrual health issues such as dysmenorrhea. The network and density visualizations revealed strong connections between menstrual cycle-related terms and physical activity and exercise variables, highlighting the growing interest in this area. However, the analysis of the research also suggests that certain areas remain underexplored, indicating the need for more detailed and experimental research work. Overall, this research study provides a comprehensive overview of current research trends and emphasizes the importance of further investigation to better understand the interaction between the menstrual cycle and exercise for improving women’s health and sports performance.