Shoulder Pain Relief, Without Drugs

A wearable pain-relief option for the shoulder discomfort that follows you through work, dressing, and rest.

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

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Illustrative composite: woman reaching to a kitchen shelf with the ActiPatch loop and control unit taped over her thin sweater on the shoulder
Reaching overhead with the ActiPatch® loop taped over a thin sweater on the shoulder.

When Everyday Reaching Becomes Uncomfortable

Putting on a shirt, reaching a shelf, or lying on one side can draw attention to a sore shoulder. Pain may come from muscles, tendons, or joints, and sometimes from the neck. Where it hurts and which movements bring it on are useful clues for a clinician, not a diagnosis on their own.

Pain Support Over the Sore Shoulder Area

ActiPatch® offers adjunctive relief for musculoskeletal shoulder pain and can be used alongside clinician-recommended care. It is a pain-support option, not treatment of a rotator cuff injury or another underlying shoulder problem. A change in pain does not tell you whether an injured tendon is ready for more use.

Drug-free support for musculoskeletal shoulder pain
Hands-free wear during ordinary activities
Can be used alongside an appropriate care plan

Notice Changes in Familiar Shoulder Tasks

1

Getting started

Locate the sore spot and note pain during an ordinary task, such as getting dressed. Do not force a painful movement to test the device.

2

With regular use

Compare discomfort during that task with use, and check placement after moving your arm or changing clothes.

3

At 7 days

If pain does not improve after 7 days of use, stop and consult a doctor. New weakness or severe pain after a fall needs earlier assessment.

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.

  • Front of the shoulder over the painful area
  • Top or outer shoulder where discomfort is felt
  • Back of the shoulder if that is the localized sore spot

Secure the loop as the package insert directs and check that a shirt seam or bag strap does not move it. Keep it off open wounds. Pain traveling from the neck or down the arm needs assessment, not just a different placement.

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

Which shoulder movements bring on pain?

Reaching overhead and lying on one side may bring on different patterns of discomfort. Note whether pain sits at the front, top, or back of your shoulder and which movements trigger it. Because the shoulder moves through several joints, this description is more useful than assuming every shoulder ache comes from the same structure.

The source may not be the shoulder

Muscle strain, repeated overhead activity, and irritation around tendons or joints are possible contributors. Tendons connect muscles to bones. Pain can also be referred, meaning felt in the shoulder even though it starts in the neck or elsewhere. ActiPatch® provides additional musculoskeletal pain relief; it cannot identify the source or repair an injured tendon.

Know when shoulder pain is urgent

Get urgent care for severe pain after a fall, an obviously misshapen shoulder, or sudden inability to move your arm. Shoulder discomfort with chest pressure, shortness of breath, or sweating needs emergency evaluation. Unexplained or persistent pain, weakness, or numbness also deserves medical advice. Do not use a wearable to delay that evaluation.

Use the painful area as your guide

Follow the package insert and position the loop at the main area of discomfort, whether at the front, outer, or upper shoulder. Keep it away from broken skin. If pain seems to start in your neck or travels down your arm, ask a clinician about the cause rather than trying to cover every painful spot.

Watch shirt seams and shoulder straps

Getting dressed or carrying a bag can shift the loop. Check it after those activities and during desk work. Secure it on skin with the included tape or a wrap, or over a thin t-shirt rather than a thick jacket. It is not waterproof, so remove it before showering, bathing, or swimming.

What does the published evidence say?

Rawe and Kotak's 2015 UK chronic-pain registry recorded users' own reports of pain with wearable pulsed shortwave therapy. This observational study included a broad pain population, not just shoulder problems. It was not a shoulder-specific randomized trial and had no sham, or inactive-device, comparison. Those limits mean it cannot establish a device effect for a particular shoulder problem or predict your response. Its subject is pain relief, not treatment of a shoulder injury. See the science page for context.

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 shoulder 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 rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons that helps control the shoulder. ActiPatch® is an adjunct for musculoskeletal pain, not treatment of a rotator cuff injury itself. Ask a clinician about new weakness or pain after an injury.

Follow the supplied wear instructions. Check that your sleeping position does not press on or dislodge the device. Remove it before showering or bathing; it is not waterproof.

ActiPatch® can be used alongside clinician-recommended care for pain support. Ask your therapist about wear during your particular exercises, and do not use a change in pain as a reason to exceed your activity plan.

Put Therapy Where You Hurt

Explore drug-free support for musculoskeletal shoulder pain. Results vary.

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