Geriatric Examination Tool Kit

Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
Clinical application: decisions about use of compression, and use of sharp debridement. Prognostic for wound healing.
Ankle SBP / Brachial SBP
Must have a doppler US to hear SBP at the dorsalis pedis artery. Cuff goes around calf).
For normal persons, leg SBP is higher than brachial SBP.

0.9 - 1.2 Normal
0.7 - 0.9 Mild arterial disease (intermittent claudication pain)
0.5 - 0.7 Moderate arterial disease (claudication pain at rest)
< 0.5 Severe arterial disease (risk of gangrene)

According to O’Sullivan, S.B. and Schmitz T.J. (Eds.). (2007). Physical rehabilitation: assessment and treatment (5th ed.). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company. p.660

< 0.9 Peripheral Arterial Disease
0.8 - 0.5 Claudication
< 0.5 Limb ischeima

According to Watchie, J. (2010). Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy. (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders-Elsevier. p.253

Falsely high values that are > 1.2 may indicate arteriosclerosis (diabetes), because the vessels are calcified and non-compressible by the BP cuff. Referral for other testing would be appropriate.