The Effect of Seated Crossed-Leg Position on the Reading of Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertension

Background and One probable sources of error blood pressure measurement can be the cross-leg seating position but research findings in this regard are contradictory. Therefore the present study was designed to investigate the effect of crossing legs while measuring the blood pressure on the reading of blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Methods and Materials: The quasi- experimental study involved 90 patients selected through purposive sampling from among the population of patients with primary hypertension admitted to Internal and Cardiac Clinics of Vaseee Hospital in Sabzevar Iran. Patients blood pressure was measured according to a written protocol in three steps: first sitting with both feet straight on the floor then sitting with crossed legs and finally sitting with both feet straight on the floor (as in the first step). Conventional stethoscope and sphygmomanometer were used for measurements; t- test was used for data analysis in SPSS. Crossing legs while measuring blood pressure increased systolic bp by 6.81 mmHg (from 144.43±21.782 to 156.24± 22.082) and diastolic bp by 3.12 mmHg (from 89.06± 13.610 to 92.18± 14.920). Mean systolic bp when the third step of the protocol was adopted reduced 9.59 mmHg (from 156± 22.082 to 146.66± 22.438) and diastolic bp reduced by 3.53 mmHg (from 92.18±14.920 to 88.64± 14.839). According to the findings blood pressure reading increases in patients with hypertension when they take a seated cross-leg position during bp measurement.