Although exercise can sometimes make you feel like you are made of iron, your body is full of fluids. Gravity can keep too much of these fluids in your ankles and legs, which can cause swelling. Your ankles may also well due to a minor injury such as a slight sprain. Swollen ankles often reflect fairly minor problems, but they may signify a more serious concern. You should see a doctor if you experience a fever, chest pains or shortness of breath along with swollen ankles.
Prolonged Standing
Your ankles may swell during exercise simply because you spend a lot of time standing during your routine. Fluids can cause your ankles to swell if they accumulate for too long. Sometimes fluids build up in your ankles, feet or legs because of a problem with your kidneys, lymphatic system or circulatory system. However, fluids can also build up in your ankles simply because gravity pulls them down when you spend a lot of time standing. If you stand upright for long portions of your routine, then your ankles may swell simply because of gravity.
Injury
A swollen ankle could mean that you have injured yourself, especially if you do high-impact exercise such as jogging. If you stretch or tear the ligaments in your ankle during exercise, you may experience swelling due to a sprain. Sprains commonly occur from running on an uneven surface or having poor running form. If your ankle swells because of a sprain, you may also feel pain when standing on it, depending on the severity of the sprain.
Solutions
If your swelling occurs from prolonged standing, you can reduce the swelling in your ankles by laying on your back and raising your legs above your heart. You may also want to try a leg exercise such as cycling to get the fluid out of your legs. A lo- sodium diet may also reduce swelling by decreasing the amounts of fluid your body retains.
If you think your ankles are swollen because you injured the tendons in your ankles, keep weight off of your ankles for a day or two. You can also use ice packs to decrease the swelling and pain.
Warning
While your ankles can swell due to something relatively harmless, such as fluid build-up from standing or a sprain, swollen ankles may also signify a very serious problem. Swelling in your ankles or other parts of your legs may indicate a problem with your heart, kidneys or liver. Your ankles may also swell because of a blood clot, which can become a life-threatening condition if it comes loose. Consult your doctor if your ankle swelling occurs along with a history of liver disease, shortness of breath, chest pain or a fever.
