Cold baths for soccer recovery
Cold Water Immersion's Role in Enhancing Recovery Speed in Female Soccer Players After Matches: A Study of Physical Performance and Molecular Responses
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Cold water immersion improved functional recovery (jump performance) within 24 hours, despite concerns it might slow healing by reducing inflammation.
Many experts believe suppressing inflammation too much can delay muscle repair, yet here, reduced inflammation was linked to *faster* performance recovery.
Practical Takeaways
Female soccer players may benefit from using cold water immersion after matches to recover physical performance faster within 24 hours.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Cold water immersion improved functional recovery (jump performance) within 24 hours, despite concerns it might slow healing by reducing inflammation.
Many experts believe suppressing inflammation too much can delay muscle repair, yet here, reduced inflammation was linked to *faster* performance recovery.
Practical Takeaways
Female soccer players may benefit from using cold water immersion after matches to recover physical performance faster within 24 hours.
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.