The paper contains a description of a research into selecting drives for prototype of Continuous Passive Motion machine. Designing and constructing automated rehabilitation devices aims to increase effectiveness as well as shorten the time of a therapy. Information drew from literature, market researches and interviews in Krakow’s rehabilitation centers enabled the assessment of changes that are necessary to improve the ongoing process of automation. The article focuses on problem of designing and appropriate location of drives in accordance with durability calculations. Additionally, designing the universal machine that would allow conducting the ankle, knee and hip joint motion simultaneously, involved proper choice of drives and planning their placement, so they would not disturb the therapy.