Let your fingers do the walking. It should be a gentle kneading with the fingers once or twice a day, pushing everything up toward the knee to force the fluids away from the joint. Strolling around in waist-deep water is an excellent and gentle means of exercising an ankle and reducing swelling, says Dr. Gordon. The movement of water against the muscles helps pump out the fluids that accumulate. Change your prescription.
Puffy ankles are often the result of a reaction to a medication.
Ask your doctor if any of your medications could be contributing to the problem and whether a different prescription or different dosage is appropriate. Wear a running shoe. A worn, improper or poorly constructed shoe may be the culprit that caused your swelling in the first place. If you have to get around on swollen ankles, the best shoe is a quality running shoe, says Phillip J. Marone, M.D., director of the Jefferson Sports Medicine Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and physician for the Philadelphia Phillies professional baseball team. It's light, comfortable and has the sole, arch and ankle support so as not to aggravate the situation.