Does Arm Positioning Affect Blood Pressure Readings?

Clinical guidelines emphasize that proper technique is important when measuring blood pressure (BP), but in many practice settings, clinicians or staff take measurements that don't follow all the recommended steps. In this U.S. trial of 133 adults, researchers assessed the effect of nonstandard arm positions on BP readings by measuring each patient's BP in three different arm positions (order of measurement was determined by a randomization protocol):

• arm supported on a desk, with cuff at heart level (reference position)

• hand supported in the lap

• arm unsupported at the side

Investigators otherwise followed standard guidance for office BP measurements.

Lap and side positions led to significantly higher readings (by 4 mm Hg to 6 mm Hg for both sys…