The Study
Cold Water Immersion's Role in Enhancing Recovery Speed in Female Soccer Players After Matches: A Study of Physical Performance and Molecular Responses
This study is like a 'before and after' test where two groups were compared, but the groups weren't picked randomly. It shows that cold water might be linked to faster recovery, but it doesn't prove for sure that the water was the only reason.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Researchers tested if cold water baths help female soccer players recover better after a game compared to room-temperature water.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 538 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes, it suggests cold baths help athletes recover their physical power and reduce internal stress faster.
- 2Cold baths lowered markers of inflammation and muscle damage more than regular water, and players could jump higher 24 hours after the game.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Balneo and PRM Research Journal
Year
2025
Authors
Mahendra Wahyu Dewangga, Sheena Ramadhia Asmara Dhani, Rinna Ainul Maghfiroh, Ekan Faozi, Sri Indra Kurnia
Related Content
Claims (4)
Taking cold water baths after working out might make your muscles feel less sore, but it won’t help you recover faster and could actually slow muscle growth by blocking the body’s natural healing response.
Taking a cold water bath after a soccer game might help female players reduce muscle soreness and inflammation more than sitting in lukewarm water.
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.
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.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.