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| Taking BP in Both Arms for our Patients |
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by Harrison Vaughan, PT, DPT, Cert. SMT - February 7, 2012
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Provided by In Touch Physical Therapy Blog
The Lancet just put out a study to show reason it is important to take BP in both arms, versus usual left side. I didn’t realize but this is a guideline recommended in both Britain and U.S. I believe I was taught to do it in both arms, but honestly, never do! Doesn’t seem very common in general medical practices either.
Not a huge implication in our practices but I often need to remind myself we are another healthcare provider that sees patients very often; more than visiting physicians. We can be of significant implications in taking BP considering 1 in 3 have HTN, many not knowing it. We can’t make the diagnosis but can refer out appropriately.
We have the education of educating the patients in not only exercise guidelines, but also simple physical activity, nutrition, stress/tension relief and pain that can keep it up in dangerous levels. Performing BP is also not only needed to make sure a patient is appropriate to exercise through ACSM guidelines, but can be highly important prior to performing manual therapy, especially on the cervical spine.
Just a reminder to try incorporating BP measurements regularly in your physical therapy practice. You will be surprised how many Americans do not have BP under control. Now I have to get out of the habit of using the automatic cuff vs manually!
Harrison Vaughan, PT, DPT, Cert. SMT is a physical therapist at In Touch Therapy in South Hill, Virginia. His clinical interests involve orthopedic and manual physical therapy, including clinical diagnostic tests. He enjoys treating the spine but his dynamic work setting in a rural area provides an opportunity to treat a wide variety ranging from pediatrics to the neurological population. Harrison received both his Bachelors of Science degree and Doctor of Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Vaughan is certified in Spinal Manipulative Therapy through the Spinal Manipulative Institute and American Academy of Manipulative Therapy. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association with a special subsection in Sports and Orthopedics and currently assists as Co-Chair of Technology position of the Virginia Physical Therapy Association. More of Harrison’s blogs can be found at http://intouchpt.wordpress.com.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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