Knee Osteoarthritis Pain Relief, Without Drugs
Drug-free support for pain associated with knee osteoarthritis, not treatment of the joint disease.
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 knee osteoarthritis. Results vary; it does not treat the underlying condition.
Take the 5-minute Pain Check for this area
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 limitationsMood 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.
Living With a Diagnosed Knee Condition
Osteoarthritis involves changes in the joint, including the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones. A diagnosed knee may ache during stairs or walking and feel stiff after sitting. Pain can vary from day to day, but a sudden change from your usual pattern deserves reassessment rather than being written off as arthritis.
Wearable Support for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain
ActiPatch® offers adjunctive relief for musculoskeletal pain associated with knee osteoarthritis and can be used alongside your existing care. Unlike the broader knee-pain page, this page concerns a specific diagnosed condition studied in a randomized trial. Pain support does not change the underlying osteoarthritis or restore cartilage.
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.
Where to Place It
- Front of the painful knee
- Inner side of the knee if discomfort is there
- Outer side of the knee if discomfort is there
Put it on in four steps
- 1Find the spotPick the one area that hurts most, using the map above.
- 2Center the loopPlace the loop so the sore spot sits in the middle of it.
- 3Secure itUse the included tape or a wrap, as the package insert directs.
- 4Switch on, then recheckCheck the loop is still centered after bending your knee.
Quick fit check
- Do: On the skin, or over thin clothing such as a T-shirt or leggings.
- Avoid: No a thick brace or fabric between the loop and your skin.
- Avoid: Bending and trouser fabric can move it. Recheck after bending your knee.
- 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: Center the loop over the painful knee area and secure it according to the package insert. Recheck alignment after bending the knee. Keep it off broken skin and avoid a thick brace or fabric between the loop and skin.
Compare With Your Usual Knee Pain
Getting started
Note your usual painful area and discomfort during a familiar task, such as rising from a chair.
With regular use
Compare pain during that task on similar days. A different pain location or new locking needs advice, not just moving the loop.
At 7 days
Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks. A very hot, swollen knee or fever needs earlier assessment.
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 knee osteoarthritis.
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.
Keep track of your usual knee pattern
With knee osteoarthritis, you may notice aching on walks or stairs and stiffness after sitting. Pain may sit near the kneecap or along one side. Note what is usual for you so you can describe a change. A new pattern may need reassessment; a wearable cannot tell you what is happening inside the joint.
An arthritis diagnosis does not explain every ache
Osteoarthritis involves changes in joint tissues, including cartilage, the cushioning surface at the ends of bones. An injured tendon, overuse, or another joint problem can also add to knee pain. A clinician can help distinguish overlapping symptoms. ActiPatch® can be used alongside other care for pain, but does not reverse cartilage changes or alter osteoarthritis.
Changes that deserve a fresh assessment
Get prompt care if your knee becomes very hot or swollen, if you develop fever, or if you cannot bear weight after an injury. New locking, significant instability, or a sudden change from your usual pain needs assessment too. Ask your clinician before changing an arthritis care plan or medication, even if you notice relief.
Place it over your familiar painful area
Follow the package insert and position the loop over the most painful area, such as the front, one side, or near the kneecap. Keep it off broken skin. If pain appears somewhere different from your usual knee discomfort, arrange a fresh evaluation rather than assuming that moving the device is all you need.
Check the loop after sitting and walking
Bending your knee can move the loop, so check it after walking and when you sit down. 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 fabric or a bulky brace underneath. Remove it before showering, bathing, or swimming.
What does the published evidence say?
Bagnato and colleagues studied knee osteoarthritis pain in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial published in 2016. Assignment to active or sham therapy was by chance; participants and assessors did not know the assignment. The sham was an inactive comparison treatment. The reported pain findings are relevant to this studied population, but a group result does not guarantee relief for you. Nor does it mean ActiPatch® treats osteoarthritis itself. Read the original paper and science page for study details and limitations.
Source: Bagnato et al., Rheumatology (Oxford), 2016. Read the ActiPatch® science overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore ActiPatch® for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain
Explore knee pain support while keeping care for the underlying osteoarthritis in place.