What it's about
With a CPM device, sick leave was 21 days shorter on average.
About CHF 3,880 less daily allowance for CHF 520 in rental.
Every franc of rental saves about 7.50 francs.
The CPM device complements physiotherapy and does not replace it.
About CHF 3,880 less daily allowance per case. That is how much can be saved after shoulder surgery when a CPM device is used at home. We did the math item by item, using Swiss wages and tariffs and the studies available on the subject. First the savings, then the cost of the device.
Saving 1: Back at work three weeks earlier
The largest item is days of absence. After an accident, accident insurance pays 80 percent of the insured salary as a daily allowance from the third day, for every calendar day. Based on the Swiss median salary of CHF 7,024 per month, that is about CHF 185 per day. Daily sickness benefit insurers usually also pay 80 percent in the event of illness.
In the randomized study by the team led by Dr. Michael involving 55 patients after rotator cuff repair, patients with a CPM device were on sick leave for 21 fewer days on average. That is about CHF 3,880 in daily allowance per case. In a German healthcare study of 177 shoulder patients (Potempa and Rychlik, 2018), it was 33 instead of 41 days, or about 8 days and CHF 1,500.
Saving 2: Earlier mobility, shorter hospital stay
With a CPM device, patients raised their arm to shoulder height under their own power 12 days earlier (Michael et al., 2005). In the healthcare study, they stayed in the hospital for 2.2 instead of 3.6 days after surgery. Patients and hospitals benefit from this on top.
Saving 3: Less absence at the company
Every day also counts for employers. A common rule of thumb puts the cost of one day of absence at CHF 600 to 1,000, or CHF 12,600 to 21,000 for 21 days. We do not include this amount in the total. It shows how much is at stake for companies.
The cost of the device: CHF 520 for six weeks
A shoulder CPM device from WINTER Medizintechnik AG costs CHF 10 per day. In addition, there is a one-time base fee of CHF 100 for personal setup, instruction and device service. All prices include VAT.
42 days × CHF 10 = CHF 420
Base fee = CHF 100
Total: CHF 520
We calculate with six weeks, the same as in the study. That equals about ten physiotherapy sessions, which cost CHF 49 to 53 under basic insurance depending on the canton. The device, on the other hand, runs every day: in the study by the team led by Cologne orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jörn Michael, it was used at home for 150 minutes a day, or about 105 hours of guided movement over six weeks. On request, we deliver the device to your home; the cost depends on the distance.
Summary
Item | Amount |
|---|---|
Daily allowance saved, 21 days | CHF 3,880 |
Shoulder CPM rental, 6 weeks | CHF 520 |
Net savings | CHF 3,360 |
Ratio | Every franc of rental saves about 7.50 francs |
The device saves about seven times its rental cost. Less absence at the company and shorter hospital stays are not even included.
What this means for insurers and employers
Basic insurance currently reimburses only the shoulder CPM device through the List of Aids and Appliances (MiGeL), and only for shoulder stiffness without surgery: CHF 3.35 per day plus a delivery fee of CHF 281.04. There is no item for devices after surgery. That is exactly where the costs arise that a device can reduce: daily allowances. For accident and daily allowance insurers and for health insurers, a cost approval can therefore pay off quickly. Employers also benefit because their employees return to work sooner.
Our experience from over 30,000 patients
WINTER Medizintechnik AG has already supplied more than 30,000 patients with CPM devices. From this data, we see that outcomes in practice are often even better than in the studies. Our calculation is therefore deliberately conservative.
Conclusion
Six weeks of shoulder CPM cost CHF 520. In daily allowance alone, the device saves about seven times its price, plus fewer days of absence at the company. It complements physiotherapy rather than replacing it. You can find more about the studies in our study reviews on faster mobility with the shoulder CPM device and on its safety. The calculation for the knee is in the article Does a knee CPM device pay off in rehab?. You can find all prices on our pricing page.
Sources
Michael JW-P et al. Effectiveness of postoperative treatment using motorized CPM devices in patients with rotator cuff tears. Z Orthop 2005; 143: 438-445. DOI
Potempa C, Rychlik R. On the provision of CPM devices after knee or shoulder surgery. Monitor Versorgungsforschung 05/2018.
Federal Statistical Office. Swiss Earnings Structure Survey 2024, press release dated 11/25/2025.
Suva. Cash benefits: daily allowance. Status 2026.
List of Aids and Appliances (MiGeL), status July 1, 2026. Physiotherapy tariff structure, item 7301, valid from 1/1/2026.
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, KMU-Magazin 10/2025: Costs per day of absence.
Our own calculations based on the sources cited. Daily allowance: median salary CHF 7,024 × 12 ÷ 365 × 80% = about CHF 185 per calendar day. Physiotherapy: 48 tariff points × up to CHF 1.11 = about CHF 53 per session. This article is for general information and does not replace medical or insurance-law advice.
