After demanding exercise, your body may feel tired and even a little sore. Though mild muscles aches are normal, swelling of the joints after exercise may indicate an injury. It could also mean a flare-up of an existing condition or previous damage to the joint. Swollen ankles after exercise could be caused by a number of factors, but they are a sign that you should check in with your doctor to determine the reason.
Sprain or Strain
Swelling of the ankle right after exercise is a major sign that you've injured yourself. Swelling is often a sign of a sprained or strained ankle. The swelling is often accompanied by soreness or pain, difficulty walking or putting weight on the foot, stiffness of the ankle or a numb sensation. The ankle may also be bruised along with the swelling.
Heart or Circulatory Problems
Swelling in the ankles, legs or feet can signal a serious problem with the heart or circulatory system. After being on your feet for a long period of time, your ankles may swell due to a blood clot in your leg. Ankles may also swell because the leg veins can't pump sufficient amounts of blood to the heart. Excess fluid in the body caused by failure of the liver, heart or kidneys can also result in swollen ankles.
Arthritis
Arthritis causes damage to the joints, which results in pain, stiffness, difficulty moving the joint and swelling. If you've pushed yourself too hard and performed a high-impact exercise that's hard on the ankles -- like running, racquetball or tennis -- you may have aggravated the arthritis in the ankle and made the joint swell. Changing your exercise routine and taking an anti-inflammatory pain reliever should help to alleviate arthritis-related swelling.
Your Body
Changes in your body can lead to swelling of the ankles, legs or feet. Getting older can increase swelling in those areas. If you're overweight or obese, you may also find that you feet and ankles swell from carrying the extra weight -- particularly during the rigors of exercise. Pregnant women are also at risk for swollen ankles due to excess fluids and weight, and being on your feet for a long period of time during exercise can make ankles swell.
