Influence of arm position on measurement of blood pressure.
A series of measurements of blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive subjects showed that measurements made with a sphygmomanometer with the arm dependent by the side were consistently higher than those made with the arm horizontal at heart level. The mean difference in a group of 90 hypertensive outpatients was 11/12 mm Hg. Failure to appreciate the importance of arm position may lead to erroneous measurements of blood pressure. This has important implications for clinical practice and research.
D001132:Arm; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D011187:Posture