Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to pain relief.
BeActive Plus is an FDA-cleared device for relief from sciatic nerve pain. The device uses acupressure, and works by applying targeted compression to pain sites that the brand claims “turns off sciatic nerve pain signals for quick relief.”
But is acupressure actually proven in research studies to be effective for sciatic pain relief? Does FDA-cleared mean the device is proven to work? Does BeActive Plus cause side effects? And is it better or worse than other popular pain relief devices like Kailo?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we review clinical trials to give our take on whether or not BeActive Plus is likely to be effective for pain relief.
We’ll explain what FDA clearance means and whether it proves BeActive Plus is proven to work, discuss the risk of side effects, and compares BeActive Plus to other popular pain relief devices to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Acupressure is clinically shown to relieve pain
- We can't find clinical trials on BeActive Plus device
- We do not currently recommend BeActive Plus
Does Acupressure Relieve Pain?
As stated in the intro section, the technology underlying BeActive Plus is called acupressure.
This is a broad term that generally refers to targeted pressure applied to specific pain sites in the body that’s meant to relieve pain due to energy transfer.
A medical review on the effectiveness of acupressure published in the Pain Management Nursing journal analyzed data from 15 clinical trials and concluded that “acupressure has been shown to be effective for relieving a variety of pains.”
It’s worth noting that the above review mostly analyzed trials that involved acupressure applied with the hands and not with a medical device like BeActive Plus.
A 2015 medical review also concluded that acupressure can be effective for natural pain relief, but the study authors noted that “The selection of which point to target is a key step in acupressure practice, and selection of the correct acupuncture point is essential to achieve good treatment outcomes.”
This suggests that acupressure may not be effective without the guidance of a licensed practitioner.
A clinical trial examined the effectiveness of an acupressure device (not the BeActive Plus) for managing pain associated with menstruation.
The researchers found that the acupressure device decreased pain by 50% in more than two-thirds of the trial participants.
Overall, it appears based on early research that acupressure is effective for reducing pain.
We cannot identify any clinical trials proving that acupressure is effective for treating sciatic nerve pain specifically, nor can we identify any clinical trials on the BeActive Plus device.
What Does FDA-Cleared Mean?
There is a difference between FDA clearance and FDA approval that consumers should be aware of.
FDA clearance does not necessarily mean that a medical device is proven to be effective.
As we documented in our Relief Band reviews article that covered another FDA-cleared device, this designation simply means that the device is “substantially equivalent” to another device on the market.
In BeActive’s case, there is likely another acupressure device that is structurally and functionally similar on the market.
FDA approval means that the FDA has actually deemed a product, drug or supplement to be effective based on a review of clinical research. This is a different process than FDA clearance, as outlined on the FDA’s website.
It’s a good sign that BeActive Plus has gone through the steps to get their device FDA-cleared, and definitely a sign that indicates legitimacy of the brand and safety of the product, however it does not definitively prove that the device is effective for pain relief.
Does BeActive Plus Cause Side Effects?
We do not believe that BeActive Plus is likely to cause side effects.
As stated previously, the device has been FDA-cleared which means it’s somewhat similar to other acupressure device(s) on the market that the FDA has safety data on.
If one of these devices were regularly causing side effects, the FDA would likely not have cleared BeActive Plus.
This device is just an acupressure device that’s strapped onto a part of the body that’s in pain. It’s an external rather than internal device, which suggests less risk of injury or side effects. If the device is causing irritation or discomfort, the user can just remove it.
We can’t envision any scenario where this device could cause long-term adverse effects.
Since BeActive Plus doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, it’s challenging to say for sure whether or not it will cause side effects.
We can't find any mention of side effects on the BeActive Plus website at the time of updating this article.
BeActive Plus vs. Popular Pain Relief Devices
Here's how BeActive Plus compares to other popular pain relief devices in terms of potential effectiveness, in our opinion:
Kailo
These metal patches are shown to reduce pain scores by over 60% in a clinical trial published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
Kailo's clinical backing is far more impressive than that of BeActive Plus.
Winner: Kailo
LegXercise
While LegXercise may support healthy circulation, we can't find any evidence it relieves pain.
We consider the proposed mechanism of action of BeActive Plus to be more convincing.
Winner: BeActive Plus
Truvaga
This device uses vagus nerve stimulation as an analgesic, which is clinically shown to be effective.
Truvaga doesn't appear to be FDA-cleared, while BeActive Plus is, so we consider the latter option to be safer.
Winner: BeActive Plus
How to Use BeActive Plus
A YouTube review published by a physical therapist includes an unboxing of the BeActive Plus device, explains how it should be properly applied, and includes a discussion about potential effectiveness:
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Both of the products recommended in this section are free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
BeActive Plus Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Based on research-backed technology
- FDA-cleared
- May relieve pain
- Unlikely to cause side effects
- Highly affordable
Cons:
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested
- Brand website charges for shipping
