The clinical use of continuous passive motion in physical therapy

Continuous passive motion (CPM) has become a common rehabilitation modality for athletes with orthopaedic problems. The purpose of this review is to examine the current literature on the historical perspective of motion, physiological effects of immobilization on bone and soft tissue, clinical CPM studies, animal CPM studies, descriptions of the CPM device, and clinical uses of CPM in physical therapy. The authors conclude that there is little clinical research evaluating the efficacy of protocols for CPM usage in numerous applications for orthopaedic problems. They recommend that further studies regarding the efficacy of CPM treatment be initiated. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1992;15(3):132-140.