Introduction: Increasing elderly populations require specific and accurate health assessment tools. Purpose: To compare the specificities of the short physical performance battery (SPPB) and the Tinetti Index validated in Brazil in patients with and without neuromotor dysfunctions. Materials and methods: Thirty-nine individuals (19 healthy and 20 with neuromotor changes) of both sexes aged 60–75 years, living in Coari (Amazonas state in Brazil), underwent SPPB and Tinetti scale assessments on alternate dates. Results and discussion: We observed significant differences between the scales, where the distribution was very concentrated after the Tinetti assessment and more dispersed after the SPPB in healthy individuals. This demonstrated that SPPB can detect minimal differences in gait and balance between healthy individuals, while the Tinetti scale is better at discriminating between healthy and those affected by mobility disorders. Conclusion: SPPB was more specific than the Tinetti Index in detecting changes in gait and balance.

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