You will need your physician or physical therapist to guide you when starting functional ankle exercises. You may have some pain during the exercise and need to stop functional exercise if you feel more pain. You should apply ice to the ankle for 15 minutes after the exercise. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Functional ankle exercises are usually performed 3 times a day. Writing. Move the ankle and foot and write each letter of the alphabet on the floor. Keep the lower leg straight, without straightening the knee and ankle joint. The letters start small and become larger as ankle function improves. Ankle flexion and extension exercises. Move the foot up and down as if depressing or easing the clutch on the car. Repeat 10 times. Lateral ankle movement Move the foot from side to side and repeat 10 times. Ankle rotation Rotate the foot, first clockwise and then counterclockwise, repeat 10 times. Stretching the ankle joint Sitting with your leg straight, circle your foot with a towel and pull backward until the muscle feels tense, not painful, then relax. Hold this tautness for 20 to 25 seconds at a time and repeat this exercise 3 times a day. Toe flexion exercise Put a towel on the floor in front of you, sit yourself on a stool, put your foot on the towel, flex your toes to grasp the towel under the arch of your foot, do not move your heel during the exercise, repeat 10 times.