What is an ARTROMOT shoulder CPM device and when is it used?

An ARTROMOT shoulder CPM device is a motorized CPM device (Continuous Passive Motion) that moves the shoulder joint in a controlled and continuous manner after surgery, without the patient having to use active muscle strength. Use often begins as early as the first few days after the procedure. The goal is to prevent joint stiffness, promote blood circulation, and support healing.

Typical indications for using an ARTROMOT shoulder CPM device include:

• Rotator cuff reconstruction

• Acromioplasty

• Shoulder endoprostheses

• Arthrotomies and arthroscopies with synovectomy or arthrolysis

• Shoulder mobilizations under anesthesia

Passive movement by the device does not replace physiotherapy in the early rehab phase, but ideally complements it by working continuously between therapy sessions.

What really matters: the right movement

When comparing shoulder CPM devices, it is not the number of motors that determines quality, but which movement the device actually performs in everyday use. The key factor is whether a device can perform the figure-eight movement, referred to by specialists simply as the 8.

Four movement axes are possible for the shoulder:

• Abduction/adduction: moving the arm sideways away from the body and back again

• Anteversion/retroversion: moving the arm forward and backward

• Internal/external rotation: rotating the arm around its own longitudinal axis

• Elevation: moving the extended arm upward

The valuable movement is created when a device combines abduction/adduction with anteversion/retroversion. The arm traces a large, fluid figure eight across multiple planes. This wide, continuous movement supports lymphatic drainage well and is therapeutically effective, all without rotation, which protects the sutures. This is exactly where the devices differ.

Why rotation is a risk after shoulder surgery

Motorized internal/external rotation can strain the freshly operated suture and, in the worst case, cause it to tear open. In practice, the rotation motor is therefore not an advantage but a risk. In addition, patients could activate rotation on the device themselves, which means control over the movement would be lost. For shoulder CPM, rotation is simply not therapeutically necessary.

ARTROMOT-S3 and S4 compared: the decisive difference

The ARTROMOT-S3 and the ARTROMOT-S4 are preferably used in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and orthopedic clinics. WINTER Medizintechnik rents and sells these devices to hospitals, rehab centers, and orthopedics departments and handles their professional maintenance. The decisive difference between the two is not the number of motors, but whether they perform the figure-eight movement.

ARTROMOT-S4: the right movement, with full reserve

The S4 performs abduction/adduction, anteversion/retroversion, and also rotation. Since only two motors run at the same time, in everyday clinical practice the two therapeutically useful axes are selected and rotation is switched off. As a result, the S4 performs exactly the same movement as the proven ARTROMOT-S Classic: the complete, suture-protecting figure-eight movement.

Its advantage over the S3: in practice, it performs exactly the right movement and, under professional supervision, also has the full range of functions in reserve. For this reason, WINTER Medizintechnik recommends the S4 for sale to hospitals and practices, where trained staff control the settings.

ARTROMOT-S3: the limited variant

The S3 combines abduction/adduction with rotation, coupled according to the physiotherapeutic PNF pattern: abduction with external rotation, adduction with internal rotation. It lacks anteversion/retroversion, which means it cannot perform the figure-eight movement. If it is used safely, only a limited movement remains, and the only additional axis is precisely the risky rotation. The result is a smaller movement with weaker lymphatic drainage and therefore less effect. For shoulder CPM, the S3 is therefore the weaker choice.

ARTROMOT-S Classic: ideal for home therapy

The ARTROMOT-S Classic has abduction/adduction and anteversion/retroversion and therefore provides the same therapeutically decisive movement as the S4 in everyday use. Rotation was only available as an optional third motor module, which in practice nobody wanted and which was never used.

What distinguishes the S Classic from the clinic models is its weight and operating concept. It is lighter, easy to transport, and designed so intuitively that patients can use it independently after a brief introduction. No complex programming and no technical prior knowledge are required. This is exactly what makes it the ideal device for the rental service.

For the procurement, rental, commissioning, and maintenance of these devices in Switzerland, WINTER Medizintechnik is the competent point of contact. As the official ARTROMOT service partner in Switzerland, the company ensures that the devices are correctly maintained and ready for use at all times.

Our detailed comparison of shoulder CPM devices shows how the ARTROMOT models perform in a direct comparison with the Kinetec Centura.

The rental shoulder device: the ideal solution for home therapy

For patients who want or need to continue their CPM therapy at home, WINTER Medizintechnik offers a direct rental service for shoulder CPM devices. The device used in most cases is the ARTROMOT-S Classic: a slim, lightweight CPM device that was specifically designed for the home environment and performs the therapeutically decisive movement.

This means the ARTROMOT-S Classic provides the same effective movement in everyday use as the clinic models. The decisive difference lies in handling: the device is significantly more compact, easier to transport, and requires no complex programming whatsoever. Patients can put it on and operate it independently.

Simplicity is not a compromise, but a design principle. The ARTROMOT-S Classic was developed so that patients can focus on their recovery, not on the technology.

Anyone who would like to order the device conveniently from home can do so directly via the order form for shoulder rental. Delivery includes a personal introduction so that the patient can use the device safely from the very beginning.

How does CPM therapy with the shoulder device work?

Therapy usually begins with small ranges of movement, which are gradually increased depending on how pain and wound healing progress. The treating doctor or physiotherapist specifies the therapy parameters: range of motion, speed, and daily duration of use. The device then reliably performs the movement, including at night or between physiotherapy appointments.

• Early postop phase: small movement ranges, slow speed, frequent short sessions

• Build-up phase: expansion of the range of motion according to the doctor’s instructions

• Home therapy: the patient uses the device independently according to instructions, accompanied by physiotherapy checks

CPM therapy is contraindicated in cases of acute inflammation, fresh unstable fractures, spastic paralysis, and other clinically relevant exclusion criteria. The decision on use and parameters always lies with the treating doctor.

Frequently asked questions about the ARTROMOT shoulder device

Why is the ARTROMOT-S4 preferable to the S3?

Because the S4 performs the complete figure-eight movement and the S3 does not. The S4 combines abduction/adduction with anteversion/retroversion and thus performs the same effective, suture-protecting movement as the ARTROMOT-S Classic. The S3 lacks anteversion/retroversion; its only additional axis is rotation, which is not therapeutically needed and is risky for the fresh suture.

What is the figure-eight movement (the 8)?

It occurs when abduction/adduction and anteversion/retroversion are combined. The arm traces a large figure eight across multiple planes. This wide-ranging, continuous movement supports lymphatic drainage and protects the sutures because no rotation takes place.

Does WINTER Medizintechnik rent out the ARTROMOT-S3 or S4?

WINTER Medizintechnik rents and sells S3 and S4 to hospitals, rehab centers, and orthopedics departments. For private patients in home therapy, the ARTROMOT-S Classic is used in most cases, as it is specially optimized for independent use at home. More information about the entire ARTROMOT rental service can be found on the corresponding overview page.

How long does the rental phase for a shoulder device last?

The rental period depends on the individual therapy plan of the treating doctor. Typically, the CPM phase after shoulder surgery lasts several weeks. WINTER Medizintechnik advises patients personally and ensures that the device is available for as long as it is medically appropriate.

Which other joints are treated with ARTROMOT devices?

In addition to the shoulder, the ARTROMOT range also covers the knee, elbow, and ankle.