Cerebral Palsy (CP) causes posture and movement disorders, limiting mobility. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) considers two important aspects of mobility: capacity and performance. Capacity is assessed in controlled clinical settings, while performance reflects the real-life context in which the child is inserted (e.g., the community).

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between mobility capacity and mobility performance.

METHODS: This is a multicenter cross-sectional study. Brazilian children with CP, aged 2 to 11 years, were included. Capacity was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66), and performance was evaluated with the Gross Motor Function Family Report (GM-FR). The classification level was determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), with participants grouped as ambulant (I-III) or non-ambulant (IV-V). To analyze the relationship between capacity and performance, a simple linear regression was performed for each group, considering capacity as the independent variable and performance as the dependent variable.

RESULTS: Forty children participated, with a mean age of 6.73 years (±2.74). Mobility capacity explained 73% of the variation in performance (R² = 0.73; p < 0.001) among ambulant children (n = 24) and 63% among non-ambulant children (n = 16) (R² = 0.63; p < 0.001). For each additional point in the GMFM, the GM-FR increased by an average of 0.858 points (ß = 0.858; p < 0.001) for ambulant children and by an average of 0.798 points (ß = 0.798; p < 0.001) for non-ambulant children.

CONCLUSION: Mobility capacity is an important predictor of mobility performance, especially in ambulant children. Environmental and personal factors should be considered when discussing the mobility of Brazilian children with CP, as they may have a greater influence on non-ambulant children.

IMPLICATIONS: The implications of this study highlight the importance of considering not only motor capacity assessed in a clinical setting but also functional performance in the daily lives of children with cerebral palsy. The findings suggest that therapeutic interventions should extend beyond improving motor capacity to incorporate environmental and personal factors that influence mobility, particularly in children at GMFCS levels IV and V. Furthermore, the results reinforce the need for individualized rehabilitation strategies and public policies that promote accessibility and the participation of these children in various social contexts.