How Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) Speeds Knee Surgery Recovery

If you've recently had knee surgery, or plan to have knee surgery soon, then you will be interested to learn about continuous passive motion (CPM) therapy. Using continuous passive motion after total knee replacement, ligament reconstruction, fracture surgery, or other kinds of knee surgeries, will likely speed your recovery. Knee surgery patients who use CPM post-surgery therapy will usually have less pain than those who don't use CPM. Consult your doctor about using CPM therapy and follow his or her recommendations and instructions.

A CPM device is something used to move your leg and knee joint in a series of careful motions. The CPM device is what moves your knee, this is where the word passive comes in. You don't make any effort yourself with your muscles to move your knee joint, the CPM device does the work of moving your knee joint for you.

Because of pain after knee surgery, patients often avoid moving their knee. This is bad because it puts them at risk of developing stiffness. Without movement as soon as possible after surgery, it is very likely that your knee tissue and joint will become stiff. The knee joint itself and the surrounding tissue will lose elasticity. When physical therapy begins, this stiffness must first be overcome before you are on your way to recovery. A stiff knee will have more pain, and require a longer period of physical therapy. When a patient uses continuous passive motion therapy after knee surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation usually last for a shorter time. There is less pain involved, and recovery is less costly.

Continuous passive motion knee therapy after surgery is important because it will help keep the knee joint area stretched and warm by increasing blood circulation, and it will help you to maintain joint and tissue elasticity.

To use continuous passive motion as part of your therapy and recovery after knee surgery, you will need a CPM device. Your doctor will provide you CPM scheduling and supervision. Your physical therapy is an important part of your recovery after knee surgery, and using CPM before you begin physical therapy will most likely give you a head start. CPM involves passive motion and stretching, while active motion waits until your physical therapy begins.

Usually, physical therapy will begin about three weeks after surgery, but this depends on what your doctor decides is best for you. If a patient has been using CPM during the time before physical therapy begins, then he or she has a jump-start on the physical therapy and recovery.