Postural changes in blood pressure and heart rate among healthy young adults in a Ghanaian university

Abstract

Introduction: There are contradictory and inconsistent reports on the effects of different body postures on measured blood pressure and heart rate. This relationship has not been previously tested in the Ghanaian population.

Aim of the study: The overall aim of the study was to investigate the effects of different body positions on blood pressure and heart rate among Ghanaian healthy young adults.

Methods: Blood pressure and heart rate were measured subsequently in eight different positions on the left arm in the following non-randomized order: (i) sitting with arm flexed at the elbow and supported at the heart level on the chair, (ii) sitting with legs crossed, (iii) standing, (iv) supine, (v) right lateral recumbent, (vi) left lateral recumbent, (vii) prone, an (viii) bent with hands holding knees with face pointing to the ground. The repeated measures for ANOVA were used to compare the means in different positions. Statistically significance was pegged at p-value < 0.05.

Results: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lowest in the right lateral recumbent position as compared to the other positions whiles the bent position recorded both the highest systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate.

Conclusion: The highest mean blood pressure and heart rates are found in the bent position as compared to other body postures. The lowest mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures are found in the right lateral recumbent posture.

Keywords: Posture, blood pressure, heart rate, Ghanaian, Adults