How arm position affects blood pressure readings during pregnancy
Compares blood pressure readings taken with the arm in different positions in pregnant women.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Arm Position and Blood Pressure Measurement Accuracy During Pregnancy
Key facts
- Where
- Ramat Gan, IsraelSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 55 years old?
Source: NCT07405723, who can take part
Where in Israel
- Sheba medical centerRamat Gan, IsraelTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Sheba Medical Center
- Trial code
- NCT07405723
- Record updated
- 16 April 2026
- Original description
Accurate blood pressure measurement is essential during pregnancy, as blood pressure readings guide clinical decisions related to the diagnosis and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Clinical guidelines recommend measuring blood pressure with the arm supported at heart level; however, in routine practice, blood pressure is often measured with the arm in non-standard positions.Read full original descriptionShow less
Arm Position and Blood Pressure Measurement Accuracy in Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Accurate blood pressure measurement is essential during pregnancy, as blood pressure readings guide clinical decisions related to the diagnosis and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Clinical guidelines recommend measuring blood pressure with the arm supported at heart level; however, in routine practice, blood pressure is often measured with the arm in non-standard positions.
This study aims to evaluate how different arm positions affect blood pressure measurements in pregnant women. Pregnant women attending a high-risk pregnancy clinic will undergo blood pressure measurements with the arm placed in several commonly used positions, including supported at heart level, supported on the lap, and unsupported at the side. Each participant will have multiple measurements taken during a single clinic visit.
The study is designed as a randomized crossover trial with stratification by trimester and chronic hypertension status, allowing each participant to serve as her own control. Participants will be enrolled across all three trimesters of pregnancy, and results will be analyzed separately for each trimester. The primary outcome is the difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements between arm positions.
The findings of this study may help improve the accuracy of blood pressure measurement during pregnancy and inform clinical practice regarding optimal measurement techniques.
Inclusion: Pregnant women aged 18 to 55 years; Singleton or multiple viable intrauterine pregnancy; Gestational age corresponding to first, second, or third trimester at the time of enrollment; Ability to sit upright comfortably for the duration of blood pressure measurements; Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion: Significant upper limb or shoulder conditions that may affect arm positioning or blood pressure measurement (e.g., lymphedema, fractures, prior surgery, arteriovenous fistula); Preexisting significant cardiac disease (e.g., arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, severe valvular disease); Neurological or musculoskeletal conditions preventing proper positioning; Severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, or other acute medical conditions requiring immediate intervention; Chronic kidney disease defined as serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL at enrollment; Major fetal anomaly; Intrauterine fetal demise.