The severity of ankle sprains is broken down into 3 categories, or grades: • A grade 1 sprain is considered mild. The ligaments in the ankle are only slightly stretched, and the joint is marked by swelling and soreness; long-term damage is unlikely to occur. • A grade 2 sprain is considered moderate. One or two small tears are present in the ligament, which may result in a loosening of the ankle joint. The ankle will be noticeably swollen and the child will experience pain and discomfort when bearing weight on the injured leg. • A grade 3 sprain is severe. Severe ankle sprains are characterized by deep or complete tears of the ligament holding the ankle joint in place. It results in severe pain and swelling. The ankle will be very weak and the child experiencing this injury will not be able to bear any weight on their foot at all. If you have any question about sprained ankles in children, please Call Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates, or book an appointment online today! We have convenient locations to better serve you: one in Brentwood and in Walnut Creek (located near Rossmoor). We serve patients from Walnut Creek, Brentwood, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Antioch, Alamo, Danville, and Oakley, CA.