Knee Pain Relief, Without Drugs

Drug-free pain support for a sore knee, whether discomfort shows up on stairs or after a busy day.

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

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Illustrative composite: man walking down garden steps with the ActiPatch loop and control unit taped over his thin trousers at the front of the knee
Taking the stairs with the ActiPatch® loop taped over thin trousers at the front of the knee.

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.

A Painful Knee Is Not a Diagnosis

Pain around the kneecap or along one side of the knee can make everyday steps feel less straightforward. Overuse, injury, and osteoarthritis are different possibilities, not interchangeable diagnoses. Note where it hurts and whether the knee swells, locks, or gives way when you speak with a clinician.

A Wearable Option for Knee Pain

ActiPatch® offers adjunctive musculoskeletal pain relief at the painful knee area. It can be used alongside your current care, but does not diagnose a knee problem or address an injured ligament or cartilage. The knee osteoarthritis trial discussed below should not be taken as evidence for every cause of knee pain.

Drug-free adjunct for knee pain.
Placement matched to the front, inner, or outer knee
Hands-free therapy during ordinary daily activities

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. Front of the knee2. Inner side of the knee3. Outer side of the knee
Front or side

Where to Place It

  1. Front of the knee around the painful kneecap area
  2. Inner side of the knee if that is the sore spot
  3. Outer side of the knee if discomfort is concentrated there

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 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 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: Follow the package insert to secure the loop with the included tape or a wrap. Check alignment after bending your knee, and avoid open wounds or a thick brace between the loop and skin.

Follow Your Knee Pain Pattern

1

Getting started

Identify the painful area and note discomfort during a familiar task, such as taking stairs.

2

With regular use

Compare pain during the same task and check that knee bending has not shifted the loop.

3

At 7 days

Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks. Do not wait to seek care for a hot, swollen knee or inability to bear weight.

Individual responses and timing vary; relief is not guaranteed.

Safety and when to stop

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

Give your knee pain a clear description

Point to where it hurts: around the kneecap, on either side, or behind the knee. Then note when it happens, such as on stairs or when standing after sitting. Mention clicking or swelling too. A clinician can use that pattern to guide an assessment; the location alone does not tell you what is wrong.

Not every sore knee is arthritis

Repeated stress on the knee, a strain after activity, and osteoarthritis can all contribute to pain. Osteoarthritis involves changes in joint tissues, including cartilage, the cushioning surface at the ends of bones. A new injury needs its own assessment. ActiPatch® is an additional pain-relief option, not a way to diagnose or change a joint condition.

When a painful knee needs prompt care

Get prompt medical care after a major twist or fall, or if your knee is very swollen, hot, visibly misshapen, or cannot bear weight. Fever with a painful, swollen knee also needs assessment. If discomfort gradually worsens or keeps returning, arrange an appointment to discuss the cause and an appropriate care plan.

Match placement to the painful spot

Center the loop over the area that hurts, whether that is the front, inner, or outer knee, following the supplied instructions. Keep it off broken skin. Placement is for pain relief, not ligament or cartilage repair. If the painful area changes, seek clinical advice rather than assuming the same knee problem has moved.

Check placement as your knee bends

After walking or taking stairs, check that the loop still covers the painful area. Secure it on skin with the included tape or a wrap, or over thin leggings. Keep the loop close to the skin and avoid a thick brace or several clothing layers underneath. Keep it dry and remove before bathing or swimming.

What does the published evidence say?

Bagnato and colleagues' 2016 study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in people with knee osteoarthritis. Participants were assigned by chance to active or sham therapy, and neither participants nor assessors knew the assignment. Sham means an inactive comparison treatment. The study reported a difference in pain outcomes, but it did not test every cause of knee pain or show treatment of osteoarthritis itself. Individual results vary. Read the original paper and science page for details and limits.

Source: Bagnato et al., Rheumatology (Oxford), 2016. 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.

It can be used as an adjunct for musculoskeletal knee pain. A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial studied knee osteoarthritis pain specifically, not all knee problems. ActiPatch® does not change the course of arthritis.

Yes, as directed in the package insert. Check that the loop stays over the painful spot as your knee bends. Less pain does not mean a newly injured knee is ready for more activity.

Follow the wear instructions in the package insert rather than a promised relief schedule. Responses vary. Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks.

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.

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