The purpose of this study is to analyze descriptively scientific documents published in the Web of Science in physical activity and sports and reveal an observational overview of the research process in the unexpected pandemic days.
Methods:We applied a retrospective descriptive analysis from Web of Science within the permission of this database for non-commercial open access data usages. We applied a customized query in the titles and abstracts of WoS indexed materials that contain at least one of "COVID-19" or "SARS-CoV-2" with "Physical activity" or "Sport" keywords (last inclusion on 03 January 2021).Results: After the filtering within keywords "COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2" with "physical activity or sport", 466 publications were founded in the core collection. These publications were produced with the contribution of 3254 researchers from 90 countries and 712 different institutions & universities. These 466 studies consist of 322 original research, 3 corrections, 71 editorial materials, 15 letters, 3 abstracts, and 51 reviews published in 224 different journals, the physical activity, or sport-related publications in the pandemic process 1045 times cited.
Discussion:The finding of the present study indicates that found large volume of scientific documents published in 2020. Therefore, it suggested that a fast research process with analysis, submission, and acceptance. The importance of the pandemic once again revealed that the question of what the future role and organization of sport should be more discussed. It is important to recognize and promote the potential beneficial effects of sport on physical, mental, and social health.