Neck Pain Relief, Without Drugs

Drug-free wearable support for neck discomfort during screen time and everyday tasks.

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

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Illustrative composite: woman at home with the ActiPatch loop and control unit taped at the back of her neck and shirt collar
Neck placement: the ActiPatch® loop is taped at the back of the neck, partly over the shirt collar.

A Sore Neck Can Distract From Your Day

An ache near the base of your neck may become more noticeable after time at a screen or in one position. Muscle strain and changes in neck joints are possible contributors, but similar symptoms can have other causes. Tell a clinician if pain stays in the neck or travels into an arm.

A Pain-Relief Option for the Neck Area

ActiPatch® provides adjunctive relief for musculoskeletal neck pain and can be used alongside your current care. It does not correct a structural neck problem or treat headaches. Persistent pain or symptoms extending into an arm need clinical advice even if the neck itself feels less sore.

Drug-free support over localized neck muscle pain
Hands-free wear during desk work
Can be used alongside clinician-recommended care

Keep Track of Your Neck Discomfort

1

Getting started

Note the sore area and when it bothers you, such as during a familiar period of desk work.

2

With regular use

Compare pain during similar tasks and check that looking down or turning your head has not shifted 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 new numbness, weakness, or a severe headache with neck pain.

Responses and timing vary; relief is not guaranteed.

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.

  • Painful muscle at the back of the neck
  • Base of the neck where localized discomfort is felt
  • Sore muscle where the back of the neck meets the upper shoulder

Follow the supplied instructions to secure the loop over the painful muscle. Keep it away from the eyes and open wounds, and check that a shirt collar does not dislodge it.

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

Describe what happens when you turn

Does your neck feel tight at the base, ache in one spot, or hurt when you turn your head? Note whether discomfort follows a long spell at a screen and whether it stays in your neck or travels into an arm. That distinction matters when a clinician assesses symptoms; it is not a diagnosis on its own.

Understanding the cervical spine

The cervical spine is the part of your spine in the neck. Muscle strain, holding one position, and changes in its joints may contribute to pain, but neck symptoms can also have other causes. ActiPatch® can be used alongside other care for musculoskeletal pain. It does not diagnose cervical osteoarthritis or correct a structural neck problem.

Neck warning signs to act on

Seek prompt care after a significant injury or for neck pain with fever, a severe headache, new arm or leg weakness, difficulty walking, or new numbness. Persistent pain or pain spreading down an arm needs medical advice too. Sudden or unexplained symptoms should be evaluated, not managed solely with an over-the-counter device.

Keep neck placement focused

Following the package insert, position the loop over the painful muscle at the back or base of your neck. Keep it away from your eyes and open wounds. If the main discomfort is in your shoulder or upper back, ask about its source rather than assuming that placement on the neck is appropriate.

Check the loop when looking down

At your desk, check placement after looking down or turning your head. Secure the loop on skin with the included tape or a wrap, or over a thin shirt collar where appropriate. Avoid a thick scarf between device and skin. Remove it before showering, bathing, or swimming; the device is not waterproof.

What does the published evidence say?

El Mohammad and colleagues reported an open-label randomized trial involving 200 people with cervical osteoarthritis pain in 2021. It compared pulsed shortwave therapy with etoricoxib, a pain medicine. Open-label means participants knew which treatment they received. Because they were not blinded and the comparison was an active medicine rather than an inactive sham device, the design cannot answer every question about effectiveness. Its pain findings apply to the studied population, not proof of changes to osteoarthritis. Responses vary; see the science page.

Source: El Mohammad et al., SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine, 2021. Read the ActiPatch® science overview.

Important Usage Guidelines

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

The cleared indication is musculoskeletal pain, not headaches. Do not assume a headache is caused by neck tension. Recurring headaches need clinical advice, and a severe headache with fever or new neurological symptoms needs prompt care.

Position the loop over the painful muscle at the back or base of the neck as the package insert directs. Avoid thick scarves between the device and skin. If pain extends down your arm, seek advice about the cause rather than experimenting with placement.

Yes, following the wear instructions. Check the position after looking down at a screen or turning your head. ActiPatch® provides pain support, not a correction for your posture or workstation setup.

Explore Drug-Free Neck Pain Support

Explore a wearable option for musculoskeletal neck pain. Individual responses vary.

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