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 clinical trials to be effective for sciatic pain relief? Does FDA-cleared mean the device is proven to work? Does BeActive Plus cause side effects? And how do real users rate and describe its effects?
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, feature unsponsored customer reviews of the brand, and provide a cost comparison to show which retailer sells this product for the best price.
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.
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:
Where to Get the Best Price
BeActive Plus is sold at a variety of online retailers.
Here's a price breakdown for a one-time purchase at the time of updating this article:
Manufacturer website: $29.99 (plus $8.95 shipping, link)
Amazon: $24.98 (free shipping, link to Amazon listing)
Walmart: $24.98 (free shipping, link to official Walmart listing)
BeActive Plus is currently around 35% cheaper at Amazon and Walmart than the brand's website.
The Amazon listing is from a third-party seller, while the Walmart listing is published by Walmart, so it may be safer to purchase this product from Walmart or the brand's website.
Real People Try BeActive Plus
A YouTube creator named James White tried BeActive Plus and shared his thoughts on whether or not it relieved pain.
The creator forgot to set a thumbnail, as seen below, but the video works:
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Customers Rate BeActive Plus
Amazon is a better resource for unbiased customer reviews than a brand's website in our opinion.
At the time of updating this article, BeActive Plus has been reviewed over 14,000 times on Amazon, and has an average review rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
A top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “M. Canada” who gave the device a 1/5 star rating, and claims it's effective:
“It works for ME! It reduces the pain and stiffness in my lower back. I sleep in it and wear it to work. It’s not needed all the time… just when I have symptoms. It’s worth it in my opinion!”
A top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “ShayMa” who gave the device a 1/5 star rating, and claims it had some benefit but was not effective overall:
“I believe in order for this to work you must be in the beginning stages of having Sciatica. The person I purchased it for is adamant about the fact that it hasn’t helped at all. The only thing is that depending on how tight it is adjusted it may numb the pain,but doesn’t necessarily stop the pain that is experienced.”
BeActive Plus currently has an average customer rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars on Google.
BeActive Plus Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of BeActive Plus in our opinion:
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
