The effects of crossed leg on blood pressure measurement.
BACKGROUND
It is clear that numerous factors influence an individual's blood pressure measurement. However, guidelines for accurately measuring blood pressure inconsistently specify that the patient should keep feet flat on the floor.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if the crossing of a leg at the knee during blood pressure measurement has an effect on the patient's blood pressure reading.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 100 hypertensive male subjects was selected from various outpatient clinics in an inner-city acute-care veterans' hospital. The first 50 subjects positioned their feet flat on the floor while their blood pressure was measured. After 3 minutes, the blood pressure was measured again with the subject's leg crossed at the knee. The procedure was reversed for the second 50 subjects.


RESULTS
The results indicated that both systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly (p < .0001) with the crossed leg position.


CONCLUSIONS
When blood pressure is measured, patients should be instructed to have feet flat on the floor to eliminate a potential source of error.
Foster-Fitzpatrick
L
L
Chicago Veterans Administration Health Care Systems, West Side Division, IL 60652, USA.
Ortiz
A
A
Sibilano
H
H
Marcantonio
R
R
Braun
L T
LT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002641:Chicago; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*