What you can expect

During the procedure

You likely will be asked to rest for 5 to 30 minutes before the test.

Typically, you lie on a table on your back, and a technician measures your blood pressure in both arms and both ankles, using an inflatable cuff and a hand-held ultrasound device that's pressed on your skin. The device uses sound waves to produce images and allows your pulse to be heard in your ankle arteries after the cuff is deflated.

After the procedure

The ankle-brachial index test should take only a few minutes. You don't need to follow any special precautions afterward. Your doctor will discuss your test result with you.