Novel continuous passive motion device for self-treatment of chronic lower back pain: a randomised controlled study

25 participants were included in this study investigating the efficacy of a continuous passive motion (CPM) device for the relief of mild to moderate, non-specific, chronic low back pain (LBP). Patients were divided into two groups to receive either immediate 3-week treatment, or a 3-week waiting period followed by treatment. A numerical rating scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess patients after 3 weeks of treatment and at 3-week follow-up. The results indicated that compared to the control group, patients receiving CPM treatment had a lower level of pain after 3 weeks of daily treatment, and this improvement was sustained even at 3 weeks post-treatment. 83% of patients receiving treatment observed a clinical minimally important change. These results from this study should be interpreted with caution as it contained few patients.