Which of the following statements best describes participation-level goals in CP therapy?

• A. Improve ankle ROM
• B. Improve participation in school activities and community involvement
• C. Increase knee extensor strength
• D. Improve gaze control

Answer: (B)

Participation-level goals focus on the child’s involvement in life situations, not just what they can do with their body. In CP therapy, these goals target real-world engagement—school activities, community participation, social roles, and meaningful participation in daily life. That’s why a statement about improving participation in school activities and community involvement is the best fit: it aims to increase the child’s actual participation and quality of life, rather than addressing a specific movement or body function.

The other statements describe outcomes about body functions or specific movements (like ankle range of motion or knee extensor strength) or gaze control. These are important, but they’re about impairment or task execution, not about enabling the child to participate in everyday life. For example, improving ankle ROM or increasing knee strength are mechanisms to support activity, which in turn can support participation, but they themselves aren’t participation outcomes.