Introduction:

Older adults, by nature, present progressive deterioration of physical-cognitive abilities where faculties such as balance and gait are affected, conditioning the increased risk of falling.

Objective:

To evaluate balance and walk in a sample of older adults belonging to the family doctor's office No.21, of the Julio Antonio Mella Community Teaching Polyclinic, in the Camagüey province.

Methods:

A descriptive study of cross-sectional design was carried out. The universe consisted of 468 older adults and an intentional sample of 100 was selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary source of the research being the observation and the interview, the secondary source the family and individual health histories and a form with the following variables: age groups, sex, educational level, comorbidities, medication use, history of falls, evaluation of balance, gait evaluation and evaluation of the risk of falls, applying the Tinetti scale.

Results:

There was a greater frequency in adults aged 70-79 years, female and with a pre-university educational level. Arterial hypertension predominated, consuming between one and three medications and with a history of up to two previous falls. Alterations in the evaluation of balance and gait were demonstrated, showing according to the Tinetti scale that the sample presents a moderate risk of suffering falls with a greater predisposition in the female sex.

Conclusions:

The group of elderly adults evaluated present alterations in the evaluation of balance and gait, with a moderate risk of falling, with its consequences if effective measures are not taken in this regard.

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