Table 1. Characteristics of the included randomised controlled trials.

Study	Population and level N (male); age ± SD	Intervention description	Group: Intervention and Control characteristics	Primary Outcome	Secondary outcomes	Results, conclusions and intervention effect
Ascensão et al. [57].	20 junior soccer players National team leagues IG (10); 18.1 ± 1.8 years CG (10); 18.3 ± 0.8 years	Effect of immediate post-exercise CWI single session on soccer players	After match for 10 minutes IG: CWI 10ºC CG: TWI 35ºC	SJ (cm) CMJ (cm) 20-m sprint (sec) MVIC (Kg)	DOMS Muscle damage: CK (U/L), Mb (μg/L) Inflammation CRP (mg/L)	Decrease in SJ at 24h and CMJ at 24h and 48h in the TWI groupb Decrease in CMJ at 24h in the CWI groupb Decreases in peak quadriceps strength in the TWI group at 24h and 48h and in CWI at 48hb Quadriceps strength greater at 24h in CWI groupa CWI more effective than TWI at 24h for quadriceps and calf DOMS and at 30min for hip adductorsa CK increased in both groups at 30min, 24h and 48hb and more in the TWI at 24h and 48ha Mb increased in both groups at 30minb, more in the TWIa CRP concentrations increased in both groups at 30min and 24hb, but again more in the TWI than in CWIa
Clifford et al. [70].	11 elite professional soccer players 19.0 ± 1.0 years	Effect of wearing lower body garments fitted with cooled phase changed material (PCM) on accelerating functional and perceived recovery after a game	45 min after match for 3 hours. 5 mmHg IG: PCMcold 15ºC CG: PCMwarm 22ºC	CMJ (cm) MVIC (N)	BAM+ MS BFQ	MVIC at 36 h and 60 h post was greater with PCMcold than PCMwarma MS post 36 h and 60 h was lower with PCMcold than PCMwarma No differences in CMJ or BAM+ between groups. PCMcold was more effective than the PCMwarm after the intervention according to BFQa
Fullagar et al. [71].	20 highly trained semi-professional soccer players 25.5 ± 4.6 years	Effect of an acute sleep hygiene strategy (SHS) on physical and perceptual recovery of players after a late-night game.	IG: SHS lights dimmed, eye-masks and ear plugs, cool temperature rooms (~17°C). No technological or light stimulation ~15–30 min prior to bedtime. 7h 30 min in bed. CG: NSHS allowed to use mobile phones and TV. 5 h 30 min in bed.	External load Internal load CMJ (cm) YYIR2 (m)	Objective and subjective sleep data General recovery state Sleep chronotype RPE Psychological recovery Physiological recovery Muscle damage: CK (mg/ml) and urea(mg/dl) Inflammation: CRP (mg/dl)	Greater sleep duration in SHS compared to NSHS on match nighta Less sleep duration with NSHSbGreater wake episodes on match night for SHSa No differences between conditions for any physical performance or venous blood marker. Maximum heart rate during YYR2 higher in NSHS than SHS at 36ha No differences between conditions for perceptual “overall recovery” or “overall stress.
Marqués-Jiménez et al. [72].	18 semi-professional soccer players 24.0 ± 4.07 years	Evaluate physiological and physical responses to wearing compression garments during soccer matches and during recovery	During game and during 3 days after for 7 h/day. SG: 20–25 mmHg ankle / 15–20 mmHg calf FLG: 25–30 mmHg calf / 15–20 mmHg thigh QG: 15–20 mmHg thigh CG: no compression garments	CMJ (cm) 10–20 m sprint (sec) T-Test (sec) YYIR2 (m)	[La-] mmol/L SaO2 (%) RPE TQR	There are significant correlations, immediately post-match, between 10-m sprint and 20-m sprint in the CG, 10-m sprint and 20-m sprint and 10-m sprint and T-Test in the SG, and [La-] and 10-m sprint in the QG. At 48 h post-match, there are significant correlations between 10-m sprint and 20-m sprint in the EG, 10-m sprint and 20-m sprint in the SG, 10-m sprint and 20-m sprint in the FLG. At 72 h post-match there are significant correlations between 10-m sprint and 20-m sprint in the CG.
Marqués- Jiménez et al. [73].	18 semi-professional soccer players 24.0 ± 4.07 years	Evaluate the influence of different types of compression garments in reducing exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) during recovery after a friendly soccer match	During game and during 3 days after for 7 h/day. SG: 20–25 mmHg ankle / 15–20 mmHg calf FLG: 25–30 mmHg calf / 15–20 mmHg thigh QG: 15–20 mmHg thigh CG: no compression garments		EIMD biomarkers DOMS Swelling	In CG, most biomarkers, including CK, LDH, GOT and GPT, were greater at 72-h post-match compared to pre-match. In EG, increasesa between pre- and 72-h post-match were observed only in CK and LDH. Thigh swelling increasesa with time were present in CG. Differences in calf swelling were observed between CG, EG, SG and FLGa DOMS differences between groups were only observed between CG, SG and QG in tibialis soreness, between CG and FLG in quadriceps soreness, between CG, EG, SG and QG in calf soreness and between SG and QG in hamstring soreness

IG: intervention Group; CG: control group; EG: Experimental group; CWI: cold water immersion; TWI: thermoneutral water immersion; SJ: squat jump; CMJ: counter movement jump; MVC: maximal voluntary contraction; DOMS: delayed onset muscle soreness; CK: creatine kinase; Mb: myoglobin; CRP: C-reactive protein; PCM: cooled phase change material; MIVC: maximal isometric voluntary contraction; BAM+: brief assessment of mood; MS: muscle soreness; BFQ: belief questionnaire; SHS: sleep hygiene strategy; NSHS: normal post-game sleep hygiene strategy; YYIR2: Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 2; RPE: rate perceived exertion; SG: stockings group; FLG: tights group; QG: shorts group; TQR: perceived recovery; [La-]: lactate concentration; SaO₂ (%): Arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin; EIMD: exercise-induced muscle damage; LDH: lactate; GOT: glutamic oxaloacetic; GPT: glutamic pyruvic

^a Significance at p<0.05

^bSignificant differences at baseline level (p<0.05)