Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effect of the division of attention on mobility performance of frail elderly. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study. We assessed 30 elderlies, 15 diagnosed with Frail syndrome according to the Fried criteria, mean age of 82.6 (5.6) years, and 15 robust elderlies, mean age of 70.4 (5.2) years. Patients were included if they did not present any neurological or orthopedic disease that impossibilities the capacity to maintain the independent orthostatic position and signed the consent term. Mobility performance was assessed in single and dual task conditions using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Sociodemographic data were collected (gender, marital status, height, weight, number of medications and number of diseases). Statistical analysis was performed using the mixed ANOVA with repeated measures. Results: The performance of frail elderly was worse compared to the robust elderly in single and dual task conditions [simple tasks: frail 20.07 (2.39), robust 6.82 (2.39); dual task: frail 26.91 (2.85) robust 9.49 (2.85)]. Conclusion: Frail elderly presents worse mobility performance in single and dual task conditions when compared with robust elderly.