Foot Pain Relief, Without Drugs

Drug-free pain support for the heel, arch, or another identified sore area of your foot.

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 foot pain. Results vary; it does not treat the underlying condition.

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Illustrative composite: bare foot on a wooden porch step with the round ActiPatch loop centered on the top of the foot and its labeled control unit taped in place
Top of the foot on the porch step, with the ActiPatch® loop taped along the top of the bare foot.

Less pain. More everyday life.

ActiPatch® offers drug-free, wearable relief for everyday musculoskeletal pain, including back, knee, shoulder, neck, foot and heel pain, and muscle and joint aches.

Wear it for hours as directed, with no drugs, no appointments to use it, and up to 720 therapy hours per device.

Rest and recharge

When pain eases, it can be easier to settle down for sleep and feel ready for the day.

Keep your independence

When pain eases, it can be easier to stay active, manage everyday tasks, and focus at work.

Make room for connection

When pain eases, it can be easier to enjoy family and friends, nurture relationships, and make space for a brighter mood.

In a 6-month ActiPatch® follow-up, 60% reported better sleep and 53% were more active.

Staelin, Koneru, and Rawe (2019) followed 240 users who had relief in week 1. Self-reported, with no placebo group. Individual results vary.

Read the ActiPatch® research and its limitations

Mood and relationship benefits are possibilities of less pain, not measured ActiPatch® results.

ActiPatch® is FDA cleared (510(k) K192234) for over-the-counter adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain.

Not Every Sore Foot Has the Same Cause

Foot pain may show up beneath the heel, through the arch, or across the top of the foot. Where it hurts and whether it starts with your first steps or builds during activity are useful details. Plantar fasciitis is one possible cause of heel pain, not an explanation for every painful foot.

Wearable Support for Foot Pain

ActiPatch® offers adjunctive relief for musculoskeletal foot pain and can be used alongside your existing care. Positioning follows the painful area, not a presumed diagnosis. The plantar fasciitis trial discussed below concerns heel pain in that condition; it does not establish a benefit for every kind of foot pain.

Drug-free support for an identified musculoskeletal pain site
Placement matched to the painful part of the foot
Can be used alongside clinician-recommended foot care

Where to Place It

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.

1. Heel2. Arch3. Top or side of the foot
Front or side

Where to Place It

  1. Heel if it is the site of pain
  2. Arch where discomfort is felt
  3. Top or side of the foot over the painful area

Put it on in four steps

  1. 1Find the spotPick the one area that hurts most, using the map above.
  2. 2Center the loopPlace the loop so the sore spot sits in the middle of it.
  3. 3Secure itUse the included tape or a wrap, as the package insert directs.
  4. 4Switch on, then recheckCheck the loop is still centered after putting your shoes on.

Quick fit check

  • Do: On the skin, or over thin clothing such as a T-shirt or leggings.
  • Avoid: No thick socks between the loop and your skin.
  • Avoid: Footwear can move it. Recheck after putting your shoes on.
  • Avoid: Keep it off open wounds and broken skin.
  • Do: Made for everyday wear, including activity and sweating, with IP22-rated water protection. Remove before showering, bathing, or swimming.

Tip for this area: Follow the package insert and check that footwear does not press on or shift the loop. Keep it off blisters and open wounds, avoid thick socks between the device and skin, and keep the electronics dry.

Track Where and When Your Foot Hurts

1

Getting started

Note the painful location and whether discomfort appears after rest, during standing, or while walking.

2

With regular use

Compare pain in the same setting and check placement after putting on socks or shoes.

3

At 7 days

Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks. New numbness, a wound, or inability to bear weight needs earlier attention.

Response and timing vary; some people may not experience relief. Pain relief does not mean the underlying condition has changed.

Safety and when to stop

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

Water Resistance: Made for everyday wear, including activity and sweating, with IP22-rated water protection. Remove 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 ease: Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks. If you are under a doctor's care, consult your doctor before use.

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

Research and background (optional reading)

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.

Each trial's design, size, and findings are summarized on the ActiPatch® Science page.

Where in your foot does it hurt?

A sharp heel pain on standing, an arch ache, and tenderness on the top or outside of the foot are different patterns. Note whether pain starts after rest or builds during activity. Not all foot pain is plantar fasciitis, a condition involving the band of tissue under the foot, so describe the location carefully.

Footwear changes are clues, not diagnoses

Overuse, muscle or tendon strain, and stress through the heel or arch can contribute to discomfort. New shoes or a change in activity may coincide with symptoms without explaining the cause. ActiPatch® can be used alongside other care for musculoskeletal pain; it does not correct how your foot moves or treat an injured tissue.

Foot symptoms that should not wait

Seek prompt assessment after a significant injury, if you cannot bear weight, or for marked redness, swelling, or fever. New numbness or a foot wound needs clinical attention too. If discomfort persists or spreads, arrange an assessment. Do not assume that every sore foot is routine overuse or try to walk through warning signs.

Use the sore spot, not a default position

Follow the package insert and place the loop over the actual discomfort, whether at the heel, arch, or another area of the foot. Keep it off open wounds. Pain concentrated over a bone after repeated impact needs advice about its cause before self-care; choosing a different loop position is not an assessment.

Recheck after putting on shoes

Socks and shoes can bunch up or shift the loop as you walk. Secure it on skin with the included tape or a wrap, or over a single thin sock where placement allows. Keep the loop close to the skin and avoid thick socks or heavy footwear between device and skin. Remove before bathing or swimming.

What does the published evidence say?

Brook and colleagues' 2012 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied plantar fasciitis, not every type of foot pain. Double-blind means participants and assessors did not know who received active therapy or the inactive comparison. The active group reported less first-step morning heel pain than the placebo group. That finding is relevant to the heel pain studied, not proof that other foot problems respond the same way or that the device resolves plantar fasciitis. Read the linked paper and science page for limitations.

Source: Brook et al., Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 2012. Read the ActiPatch® science overview.

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.

No. ActiPatch® is cleared for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. However, the foot trial discussed on this page studied plantar fasciitis, not all foot conditions. It does not diagnose foot pain, correct foot mechanics, or address an underlying injury.

Use the supplied positioning instructions and check the fit before walking. The shoe should not press on the device or move it away from the sore spot. A single thin sock may sit between the loop and skin; avoid thick layers and remove the device before getting it wet.

Read the package insert for full contraindications, warnings, and precautions. Do not use if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or if you have a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or other active implanted metallic or electronic device. Not for use by or on children under 17. If you are under a doctor's care, consult your doctor before use.

No. Lidocaine patches numb the skin with a drug for 8 to 12 hours per patch, and heat wraps warm the skin for about 8 hours, then both are thrown away. ActiPatch® is a drug-free, nonthermal medical device worn over the painful area. It is FDA cleared for over-the-counter adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain and one device provides up to 720 therapy hours.

Follow the package insert. ActiPatch® can be worn for hours at a time, including overnight, as long as it stays over the painful area. Many people wear it through the day and night at first, then as needed. Individual results vary. Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks.

ActiPatch® offers drug-free, wearable relief as an adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Wear it for hours as directed, with up to 720 therapy hours per device and no appointments needed to use it. When pain eases, it can be easier to sleep, stay active, focus at work, and enjoy time with family and friends. Mood and relationship benefits are possibilities of less pain, not measured ActiPatch® results. Individual results vary.

Watch

Morning Pain

What 2 placebo-controlled studies found for knee and heel pain

Read the transcript

Your knees wake up before you do.

That first step out of bed. The slow walk to the coffee. The pills by the sink just to get going.

Meet ActiPatch®. It's drug-free and FDA cleared for musculoskeletal pain. Gentle electromagnetic pulses calm overactive pain signals while you sleep, and you won't feel a thing.

In a placebo-controlled knee arthritis study, pain dropped about 25%, compared with about 4% on placebo. And 26% stopped their pain pills, compared with 3%.

For heel pain, a separate placebo-controlled study found morning pain fell 40%, compared with 7%.

Get your mornings back. No pills, no pain. Order today at ActiPatch.com. Free shipping on every order through December 31st.

ActiPatch®. From the team at Electrome.

Free shipping offer ends December 31, 2026 (midnight HST), US addresses including US territories. Individual results vary. ActiPatch® does not replace prescribed medication.

Explore ActiPatch® for Foot Pain

Explore a pain-support option matched to your sore foot area. Individual results vary.

$39.99Single pack, one device
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