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Blood pressure measurement during exercise: a review
S E Griffin1, R A Robergs, V H Heyward
1Center for Exercise and Applied Human Physiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131-1251, USA.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Accurate blood pressure measurement during exercise is crucial. While peripheral artery readings can overestimate systolic pressure, manual and automated sphygmomanometry are viable indirect methods for systolic estimates, though diastolic readings may be underestimated.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate systemic blood pressure measurement during exercise is vital for physiological monitoring and research.
- Peripheral arterial pressure measurements can be influenced by wave form reflection, potentially exaggerating systolic values.
- Existing noninvasive methods for blood pressure monitoring during physical activity require careful validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and assess the validity of common methods for measuring systemic blood pressure during exercise.
- To identify reliable indirect methods for estimating central arterial pressures during physical exertion.
- To evaluate the accuracy of noninvasive blood pressure devices under exercise conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on blood pressure measurement techniques during exercise.
- Comparison of direct arterial blood pressure measurements with indirect noninvasive methods.
- Analysis of the impact of exercise intensity on measurement accuracy.
Main Results:
- Direct peripheral arterial measurements tend to overestimate systolic blood pressure due to wave reflection but offer representative mean and diastolic central pressures.
- Manual and automated sphygmomanometry are the most suitable indirect methods for estimating ascending aorta systolic pressures.
- Both sphygmomanometry methods significantly underestimate diastolic pressures, with errors increasing at higher exercise intensities.
- Several devices, including Accutracker II, A&D TM 2421, Colin 630, and Critikon 1165, are identified as acceptable for systolic blood pressure measurement during exercise.
Conclusions:
- Ascending aorta pressure is the ideal gold standard for validating blood pressure measurement methods during exercise.
- Noninvasive devices, particularly for diastolic pressure, often exhibit inaccuracies during exercise.
- Specific validated devices can provide acceptable systolic blood pressure measurements in exercise settings, despite limitations in diastolic accuracy.