Hip Pain Relief, Without Drugs

A drug-free wearable option for hip-area discomfort during walking, sitting, and everyday routines.

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

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Illustrative composite: woman walking on a park path, seen from behind, with the ActiPatch loop and control unit taped over her thin leggings at the outer hip
Walking with the ActiPatch® loop taped over thin leggings at the outer hip.

Pinpointing Hip-Area Discomfort

Hip-area pain can make a walk, a flight of stairs, or finding a comfortable sleeping position feel more complicated. An ache on the outer hip is different from deep groin pain, and some hip-area symptoms come from the lower back. Tell a clinician where the pain starts and what brings it on.

Wearable Support for Hip Pain

ActiPatch® offers adjunctive musculoskeletal pain relief over an identified painful hip area. It can be used alongside your current care, but cannot determine whether the discomfort comes from a muscle, tendon, joint, or another source. Deep groin pain or difficulty bearing weight calls for assessment, not trial-and-error placement.

Drug-free support for localized musculoskeletal hip pain
Hands-free wear during ordinary activities
Can be used alongside clinician-recommended care

Compare Pain During Your Usual Routine

1

Getting started

Note the exact sore spot and pain during an ordinary activity, such as a familiar walk or sitting down.

2

With regular use

Compare discomfort during that same activity. Check that a waistband or pocket seam has not moved the loop.

3

At 7 days

If pain does not improve after 7 days of use, stop and consult a doctor. Seek care sooner for severe pain after a fall or inability to bear weight.

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

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.

  • Outer hip over the localized sore spot
  • Back of the hip over an identified area of musculoskeletal discomfort
  • Upper thigh near the hip if that is the assessed painful area

Secure the loop as directed in the supplied instructions and check it after sitting or walking. Avoid open wounds and thick pants between the loop and skin. Do not guess at placement for unexplained deep pain.

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

Be specific about hip-area pain

Pain on the outer hip, toward the groin, and in the upper thigh may have different sources. Note exactly where you feel it and whether walking or lying on that side makes it worse. This distinction is worth sharing at an appointment rather than describing every ache in the area simply as hip pain.

The hip and lower back can overlap

Muscle or tendon strain, repeated stress, and changes around the joint can contribute to discomfort. Tendons attach muscles to bones. Pain felt around the hip may also start in the lower back. ActiPatch® is an additional option for musculoskeletal pain relief, not a way to tell these causes apart or treat an underlying hip condition.

When walking difficulty needs assessment

Seek prompt care after a fall, for severe hip pain, or if you cannot put weight on the leg. Fever or a visibly swollen, hot joint also needs assessment. Arrange medical advice for persistent pain, new weakness, or pain moving down the leg. Do not delay evaluation of an unexplained symptom while trying a device.

Outer-hip placement is not guesswork

For discomfort on the outer hip, position the loop over the sore area rather than where you imagine the joint sits underneath. Follow the supplied instructions and avoid open wounds. Deep groin pain or major difficulty putting weight on the leg calls for clinical assessment, not experiments with different positions for the loop.

Check waistbands, pockets, and bag straps

Before walking or climbing stairs, check that clothing or a bag strap has not moved the loop. Secure it on skin with the included tape or a wrap, or over thin leggings. Keep the loop close to the skin and avoid thick pants between device and skin. Remove it before showering, bathing, or swimming to keep it dry.

What does the published evidence say?

Rawe and Kotak's 2015 UK registry followed people using wearable pulsed shortwave therapy for chronic pain. Participants reported their own experiences, with no random assignment to treatments and no placebo, or inactive, comparison device. This is broad observational evidence, not a hip-specific controlled trial. It cannot separate a device effect from other influences or establish that your particular hip pain will respond. The science page explains this study's context; pain relief does not establish that an underlying hip problem has been addressed.

Source: Rawe and Kotak, Pain Management, 2015. Read the ActiPatch® science overview.

Important Usage Guidelines

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

No. ActiPatch® is an adjunct for musculoskeletal pain, not a diagnostic tool or treatment of an underlying hip condition. The broad chronic-pain registry discussed on this page is observational, not a hip-specific controlled trial, and cannot predict your response.

Follow the supplied wear instructions and check that the chair, waistband, or sleeping position does not press on or dislodge the device. Remove it before showering, bathing, or swimming because it is not waterproof.

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.

Explore ActiPatch® for Hip Pain

Explore wearable support for musculoskeletal hip pain, without replacing an assessment of the cause.

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