Cold water after soccer: recovery depends on the measure
Ten studies found benefits for some recovery measures, but not sprinting.
The short version
This 2026 review examined cold water after soccer matches. Across ten controlled studies, muscle strength and soreness tended to recover better. Jumping improved at some time points, while sprinting showed no clear benefit. The uncertainty is wider than the average results suggest: prediction intervals for every outcome included no effect. These findings concern trained players recovering over the next three days, not general health or long-term training gains.
Keep in mind
Every prediction interval included no effect.
What they found
Strength: standardized difference 1.02 (95% CI 0.55 to 1.50). Soreness: −1.04 (−1.91 to −0.17). Sprinting: no clear change.
What this means for your practice
Match recovery and building strength over weeks are different questions.
Methods and limitations
What the researchers did
Compared cold water with control or placebo after matches.
How much can this tell us?
The prediction interval allows for results in another comparable setting, including no benefit.
What makes it useful
- Reports prediction intervals
What limits it
- Sport-specific
- Results differ by timing
Where this study fits
Where this study fits
We score claims, not single studies. This one is part of the evidence for:
Cold water after exercise eases muscle soreness. Well supported
Moderate certaintyMedium effectHow you feel or perform
Cold water speeds up recovery of performance. Some support
Low certaintySmall effectHow you feel or perform
Read the original
Veen J et al. The Impact of Cold-Water Immersion on Post-Match Recovery in Trained Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2026;36(1):e70202.
DOI 10.1111/sms.70202 · PubMed 41490103