GONARTHROSIS: A BIBLIOMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF ETIOLOGY, PROGRESSION, AND MANAGEMENT

3rd International Health Sciences Congress in the 21st Century, Ürgenç, Uzbekistan, 14 - 16 April 2026, pp.326, (Full Text)

Objective: This study aims to provide a bibliometric-based synthesis of the literature on gonarthrosis

(knee osteoarthritis), focusing on etiological factors, disease progression, and strategies for prevention

and management. Methods: A bibliometric-oriented approach was used by integrating evidence from

systematic reviews, meta-analyses, annual review articles, and bibliometric studies indexed in major

scientific databases. Key concepts included risk factors, progression, rehabilitation, obesity, sarcopenia,

biomechanics, and regenerative therapies. Rather than relying on raw database exports, this study

presents a qualitative-bibliometric synthesis of current research trends and thematic clusters. Results:

The most consistent and well-established risk factors for gonarthrosis include advanced age, female sex,

obesity, previous knee injury, and biomechanical loading abnormalities. In recent years, research focus

has shifted toward body composition, particularly sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity, as well as systemic

inflammation and muscle weakness. Disease progression is now understood as a multifactorial process

involving biomechanical, metabolic, and functional components rather than solely radiographic

deterioration. Preventive and disease-modifying strategies are primarily centered on exercise, weight

management, rehabilitation, biomechanical optimization, and patient education. Emerging research

areas include acupuncture, mesenchymal stem cell therapies, cartilage regeneration, and molecular

signaling pathways. Bibliometric trends indicate a transition from traditional epidemiological

perspectives toward a multidimensional and interdisciplinary research framework. Conclusion: The

gonarthrosis literature has evolved from a cartilage-centered degenerative model to a complex,

multifactorial paradigm incorporating biomechanical, metabolic, and musculoskeletal factors. While

classical risk factors remain highly relevant, recent research highlights the importance of sarcopenia,

personalized rehabilitation, and regenerative approaches. Exercise and weight management continue to

represent the most evidence-based strategies for slowing disease progression, whereas emerging

therapies require further high-quality evidence to establish their clinical effectiveness.