An experimental study was performed to investigate the differences in treatment outcome between a group of patients given postoperative physiotherapy, including continuous passive motion (CPM), and a control group given physiotherapy without CPM. The variables measured included knee range of motion, pain, function, quality of life and length of stay in hospital after total knee arthroplasty. Thirty-seven patients completed the study (19 patients from the CPM group and 18 from the control group). Knee range of motion and pain were measured preoperatively and again seven days and three months postoperatively. The patients' mobility was tested with the Timed "Up and Go" test preoperatively and three months postoperatively. On these two occasions, the patients were given a self-administered questionnaire (Knee Injury and Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, KOOS), where they were asked to estimate their experiences of pain, what symptoms they experienced, function in daily living (ADL) and knee-related quality of life. The results of the study indicate that there were no differences between the CPM and control groups regarding length of hospital stay, knee range of motion and pain, either seven days or three months postoperatively. Moreover, no differences were noted between the groups three months postoperatively on the Timed "Up and Go" test and the KOOS subscales pain, symptoms, ADL and knee-related quality of life. This study demonstrates that CPM does not have any additional effect on treatment compared with conventional physiotherapy. Therefore, we conclude that CPM is not a necessary routine after total knee arthroplasty.

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