SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF CONTINUOUS PASSIVE MOTION (CPM) TREATMENT ON PAIN AND ROM IN SUBJECTS AFTER TOTAL KNEE ARTHOPLASTY

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective surgical intervention for end-stage knee osteoarthritis, aimed at alleviating pain and restoring joint function. Early postoperative rehabilitation plays a vital role in optimizing recovery outcomes. Continuous passive motion (CPM) is frequently used as an adjunct to physiotherapy: however, its short-term efficacy remains debated. Objective: To evaluate the short-term effects of continuous passive motion (CPM) on Postoperative pain and knee joint range of motion (ROM) among subjects following TKA. Methodology:A pre and post – experimental study was conducted on 30 participants (aged 50-75 Years) who underwent unilateral TKA due to degenerative changes. From the third postoperative day, subjects received CPM therapy for 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of knee exercises, three times per week for four weeks. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and ROM was measured with a universal goniometer. Pre and post – intervention data were statistically analyzed using paired t-tests, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Post-intervention analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in pain scores (mean decrease on VAS ) and improvement in knee flexion ROM Compared to baseline (p<0.05). These findings indicate that CPM facilitates early functional recovery and enhances patient comfort during the postoperative phase. Conclusion: Continuous passive motion (CPM) with conventional physiotherapy, significantly reduces postoperative pain and improves knee joint mobility in the short-term period following Total Knee Arthroplasty. Further randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these findings and determine optimal treatment parameters.