Ground subsidence resulting from underground coal mining poses a significant environmental geology challenge in coal resource exploitation. The acquisition of subsidence deformation parameters is crucial for guiding efforts aimed at mitigating mining-induced damage and preserving the ecological environment. Focusing on deformation of the loose layer, which holds particular importance for ecological restoration in high groundwater level coalfields in eastern China and environmental protection in ecologically fragile areas in the west. With the help of CiteSpace bibliometric software and based on the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, visual analysis was conducted. Through quantitative statistics and analysis of the main research forces, hotspots, and current trends in this research direction over the past 30 years, the current research status of this direction was elaborated in detail. A brief overview of the causes of subsidence, theoretical analysis, indoor experiments, and research on numerical simulation and in-situ measurement. The future trend was forecasted from the aspects of multi-disciplinary promotion of theoretical research and development, multi-method joint establishment of high-precision dynamic monitoring, development and innovation of test equipment and technology, etc., and the construction and operation of "space-space-ground-hole" integrated monitoring platform was proposed, in order to obtain multi-dimensional and grid three-dimensional data. To further master the deformation characteristics and transfer mechanism of the loose layer, and provide basic data and scientific support for the implementation of "source control" and "process control" in mining and mining area environmental management concept and evaluation of the geological conditions of CO₂ sequestration in abandoned mines.