Which statement about BP measurement technique is incorrect?

• A. The arm should be at heart level during measurement.
• B. The patient can be seated with back supported and feet uncrossed.
• C. The measurement should be performed after at least 5 minutes of rest in a comfortable position.
• D. The arm should be raised above the head for stability.

Answer: (D)

Accurate blood pressure measurement depends on positioning that places the cuff at heart level and the patient in a relaxed, stable posture. When the arm is not at heart level, the hydrostatic pressure differences distort the cuff reading, producing readings that don’t reflect true arterial pressure.

Raising the arm above the head moves the cuff above the heart, which lowers the pressure detected by the cuff and yields an artificially low reading, while also making it harder to stay still. This is not how BP should be measured.

The other statements align with proper technique: the arm at heart level keeps the measurement true to the actual arterial pressure; seated with the back supported and feet uncrossed provides a stable, comfortable position that minimizes movement and vascular influence; and resting for several minutes before measurement establishes a baseline BP rather than a transient, elevated value.