Back Pain Relief, Without Drugs

A drug-free wearable option for the back pain that interrupts desk time, errands, and rest.

ActiPatch® is a drug-free wearable, FDA 510(k)-cleared (K192234) for over-the-counter (OTC) adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. It offers up to 720 therapy hours and can be used alongside other care for musculoskeletal pain associated with back pain. Results vary; it does not treat the underlying condition.

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Illustrative composite: man at home with the ActiPatch loop and control unit taped over his thin shirt on the lower back
Lower-back placement: the ActiPatch® loop is taped over a thin shirt across the lower back.

When Your Back Shapes Your Day

A sore back can turn a long meeting or a simple household task into something you plan around. The location and pattern matter: an ache after sitting is not the same as pain traveling down a leg. Muscle strain and other causes can overlap, so persistent symptoms deserve an assessment rather than a guess.

Pain Support That Fits Your Routine

ActiPatch® offers adjunctive relief for musculoskeletal back pain, meaning pain in muscles, joints, and related structures. It can be used alongside your existing care during ordinary activities. It does not identify the cause of back pain or correct an underlying back condition.

Drug-free pain support over the sore area
Hands-free use during desk work or daily tasks
Can be used alongside clinician-recommended care

Check In With Your Back Pain

1

Getting started

Note where your back hurts and one familiar activity that brings on discomfort, such as sitting at your desk.

2

With regular use

Compare pain during that same activity with use. A brief note can help you describe any change without relying on memory.

3

At 7 days

If pain does not improve after 7 days of use, stop and consult a doctor. Seek care sooner for new or concerning symptoms.

Responses and timing vary; relief is not guaranteed.

Match Placement to the Sore Spot

Wear ActiPatch® directly on the skin secured with the included tape or wrap, or over thin/light clothing such as a t-shirt or leggings. Keep the loop close to the skin and avoid thick layers between the device and skin. Follow the package insert for positioning.

  • Over a sore area on one side of the lower back
  • Across the central lower back if that is where discomfort is felt
  • Over localized mid-back muscle discomfort

Center the loop over the painful area and secure it with the included tape or a wrap as directed. Check that a chair back or waistband does not shift it; do not place it directly on an open wound.

Technology and Evidence

ActiPatch® is a self-contained wearable that uses pulsed shortwave therapy for drug-free pain support, with no noticeable heat or tingling sensation from the device. There are no electrode pads or wires to connect. FDA 510(k) K192234 clears ActiPatch® for over-the-counter adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Read the evidence below and the science overview for study limits and technical details.

From the evidence library

What does the evidence show?

ActiPatch® is FDA-cleared (510(k) K192234) for over-the-counter adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. These counts cover selected ActiPatch® clinical publications, not laboratory studies or studies of other devices. Study conditions and protocols differ, and individual results vary.

Published records
6
Each paper counted once
Randomized controlled trials
3
Library design label: RCT
Publication years
2012–2021
Earliest to latest record
What do clearance and research tell us?

FDA clearance identifies the device's permitted use; it is not an endorsement or a guarantee of results. These pain trials do not establish improved circulation, tissue repair, or reduced inflammation as ActiPatch® outcomes.

Read the FDA clearance record (opens in a new tab)

How soon might I notice a difference?

Individual experiences vary. Many people report noticing relief within a few hours; for some, it can take up to four days of consistent wear. Keep following the package directions and do not change medications or prescribed care without speaking with your healthcare provider.

RCT2016 · Rheumatology (Oxford)

Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

Bagnato GL, Miceli G, Marino N, Sciortino D, Bagnato GF

In a four-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ActiPatch® trial in knee osteoarthritis, 66 people were randomized and 60 completed the study. The investigators reported improvements in pain and physical function compared with placebo. Participants wore the device 12 hours a day.

Read the source publication(opens in a new tab)
RCT2012 · Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery

Pulsed Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Therapy: A Potential Novel Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

Brook J, Dauphinee DM, Korpinen J, Rawe IM

A seven-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied nightly use for plantar fasciitis. Among 70 participants who completed the study, the active-treatment group reported a greater reduction in morning pain than the placebo group.

Read the source publication(opens in a new tab)

Evidence describes study results, not a promise of the same result for everyone. This is not medical advice.

Explore the full evidence library

Notice the pattern, not just the pain

Does your back ache after sitting, during a lift, or later in the day? Note where it starts, how long it lasts, and whether it stays in one spot or travels into a leg. These details give a clinician more to work with than a pain score alone, but cannot identify the cause by themselves.

A sore back can have more than one source

Musculoskeletal means involving muscles, bones, or joints. Lifting, repeated bending, and prolonged sitting can contribute to discomfort; spinal joints and other structures may also be involved. ActiPatch® can be used alongside other care for musculoskeletal pain, but cannot diagnose its source. Have new or unexplained back pain assessed before relying on self-care.

Back symptoms that need medical attention

Seek urgent medical attention for back pain with new bowel or bladder problems, leg weakness, numbness around the groin, fever, or a significant injury. Pain that persists, worsens, or travels down a leg also deserves medical advice. Do not wait to see whether a pain-relief device helps before seeking care for these warning signs.

Place the loop where you feel discomfort

Follow the package insert and position the loop over the painful area, such as one side of your lower back. You do not need to guess which deeper structure is involved. Keep it off open wounds. If pain shifts or spreads, tell a clinician rather than simply moving the loop and carrying on.

Check the fit when you sit down

A chair back or waistband can dislodge the loop, so check placement after sitting or changing clothes. Secure it on skin with the included tape or a wrap, or over a thin t-shirt. Avoid thick layers between the loop and skin. The device is not waterproof: remove it before showering, bathing, or swimming.

What does the published evidence say?

Staelin and colleagues' 2017 chronic back pain registry recorded pain reported by people who chose to use wearable pulsed shortwave therapy. A registry follows users' experiences; this is observational evidence, not a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Without randomly assigned groups and an inactive comparison device, it cannot separate a device effect from other influences or predict your result. The evidence concerns pain relief, not treatment of an underlying back condition. The linked paper and science page provide study context.

Source: Staelin et al., Pain Management, 2017. Read the ActiPatch® science overview.

Important Usage Guidelines

Not a Cure: ActiPatch® is intended for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain, not a cure for back pain.

Water Resistance: The device is not waterproof. Remove it before showering, bathing, or swimming.

Contraindications: Do not use if you have a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or other active implanted metallic or electronic device. Follow the supplied instructions for use.

Pregnancy: Do not use if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

Not for children: Not for use by or on children under 17.

Pain of unknown cause: Do not use for sudden or unexplained pain, or if the cause of the pain is unknown. Not for pain deep in the body such as the chest or stomach, and not for cancer-related pain.

Open wounds: The device is not sterile. Do not place it in direct contact with open wounds.

If pain does not improve: If pain does not improve after 7 days of use, stop and consult a doctor. If you are under a doctor's care, consult your doctor before use.

See the package insert for full contraindications, warnings and precautions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Wear ActiPatch® directly on the skin with the included tape, or over a thin layer of clothing such as a t-shirt or leggings. Avoid thick fabric between the device and the skin. Follow the package insert for positioning.

ActiPatch® is cleared for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain, not every cause of chronic back pain. The back-pain evidence discussed on this page is an observational registry, not a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. It cannot predict your result.

It is designed for extended, continuous use. Follow the package insert, check that the loop stays over the sore area, and remove it before showering, bathing, or swimming because it is not waterproof.

Yes, following the supplied instructions. After sitting down, check that the chair is not pressing on or dislodging the device. If your pain spreads into a leg or changes noticeably, ask a clinician rather than simply moving the loop.

Pain Management That Fits Your Life

Explore a wearable option for musculoskeletal back pain. Individual results vary.

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