Wrist and Hand Pain Relief, Without Drugs
Drug-free wearable support for an identified sore spot on the wrist or the back of the hand.
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 wrist and hand pain. Results vary; it does not treat the underlying condition.
Take the 5-minute Pain Check for this area
Separate Joint Aches From Other Hand Symptoms
A sore wrist or hand can get in the way of typing, opening jars, or gripping a steering wheel. Note whether the ache sits on the back of the wrist, along the thumb side, or across the knuckles, and what brings it on. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the fingers is a different kind of symptom that needs a clinician's assessment.
Wearable Support for Wrist and Hand Pain
ActiPatch® offers adjunctive relief for musculoskeletal wrist and hand pain and can be used alongside your existing care. It is cleared for musculoskeletal pain, not for nerve symptoms such as numbness or tingling. Positioning follows the sore area, and pain relief does not mean an underlying joint or tendon 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.
- Back of the wrist over the localized sore spot
- Back of the hand over an identified area of musculoskeletal discomfort
- Thumb side of the wrist if that is where pain is felt
Secure the loop over the sore area of the wrist or hand with the included tape, following the package insert. Recheck alignment after typing or gripping. Keep it off broken skin, and take it off before washing up or bathing because it is not waterproof.
Track Pain During One Familiar Hand Task
Getting started
Note the sore spot and discomfort during an ordinary task, such as typing, writing, or opening a jar.
With regular use
Compare pain during that same task. Check that a watch strap, glove, or sleeve cuff has not moved the loop.
At 7 days
Check in with your doctor if the pain changes, gets worse, or isn't easing after a few weeks. Seek care sooner after a fall onto the hand, or for new numbness or weakness.
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 wrist and hand 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 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.
Describe where in the wrist or hand it hurts
Pain on the back of the wrist, along the thumb side, and across the knuckles are different patterns. Note whether it comes on with typing, gripping, or lifting, and whether it began after a fall. These details help a clinician understand the problem; the location alone does not tell you the cause.
Pain and nerve symptoms are not the same
Joints, tendons, and the small muscles of the hand can all contribute to musculoskeletal pain. Numbness, tingling, or pins and needles in the fingers, especially at night, can point to a nerve problem instead. ActiPatch® is cleared for musculoskeletal pain; it is not a way to address nerve symptoms, which need a clinician's assessment.
Wrist and hand symptoms that need assessment
Seek prompt care after a fall onto an outstretched hand, for a wrist that looks deformed, or for severe swelling. A hot, red joint, fever, new weakness, or numbness that does not settle also needs assessment. Do not wait to see whether a device helps before having these signs checked.
Place the loop over the sore spot
Position the loop over the painful area, such as the back of the wrist or hand, as the supplied instructions direct. Use the actual site of discomfort as your guide and keep it off cuts and broken skin. If pain spreads into the forearm or fingers, tell a clinician rather than simply moving the loop.
Watch straps, gloves, and handwashing
A watch strap, glove, or sleeve cuff can push the loop out of place, so check it after putting these on and after busy hand tasks. Secure it on skin with the included tape or a wrap. The device is not waterproof, so take it off before washing up, showering, bathing, or swimming.
What does the published evidence say?
Rawe and Kotak's 2015 UK registry recorded self-reported pain from people with a range of chronic pain complaints who used wearable pulsed shortwave therapy. It was observational, without randomly assigned groups or a sham, meaning inactive, device. It was not a wrist or hand trial and cannot establish a benefit for any specific wrist or hand condition or predict your result. It concerns pain relief only, not nerve symptoms or treatment of an underlying condition. The science page explains how to read it alongside controlled studies.
Source: Rawe and Kotak, Pain Management, 2015. Read the ActiPatch® science overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore ActiPatch® for Wrist and Hand Pain
Explore wearable support for musculoskeletal wrist and hand pain while keeping care for the cause in place.