OBJECTIVE: Continuous passive motion (CPM) has been shown to increase the amount of knee flexion in knee patients at the acute care hospital. Changing postoperative management leads to shorter hospitalisation periods. The objective of the present randomised controlled trial was to assess whether there is additional benefit in CPM use during such a short hospitalisation period. DESIGN: Forty patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were randomly allocated to either a group receiving CPM in addition to physical therapy or a group receiving physical therapy alone. Both programmes were delivered during a 5-day postoperative period on an inpatient basis, starting on the first day after surgery. Main outcome measures were mobility and function; secondary measures included muscle strength, pain, satisfaction and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The results indicate a significant difference in function score, pain and strength between the CPM group and the control group. Four days after surgery, the CPM group scored an average of 56 points on the Hospital for Special Surgery scale (HSS), versus 45 points in the control group (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that, in addition to an improved range of motion, a protocol including CPM seems to have a favourable effect on pain and muscle strength in the first two weeks after surgery.

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