Taking a cold-water plunge after exercise might make your jumping power worse right afterward, especially if only part of your body is in the water — but soaking your whole body doesn’t seem to have much of an effect.

Taking a cold water bath after a soccer game might help female players bounce back faster the next day compared to a lukewarm bath, especially when it comes to jumping ability.

Taking a 10-minute cold bath at 10°C after a hard strength workout doesn’t help young, active guys bounce back faster in terms of muscle power or strength within a few hours.

For female soccer players, taking a cold water bath after a game doesn’t help with jumping ability two days later any more than a regular-temperature bath — so the benefits of cold baths might only last a short time.

Taking cold baths or cold plunges after exercise might make you *feel* better, but it doesn’t actually help your muscles get stronger faster in the first 72 hours.

If young, active guys take a 10-minute cold bath at 10°C after lifting weights, their muscle temperature drops by about 7°C and stays low for over half an hour.