ActiPatch® vs Acupuncture for Pain
By Electrome Corporation · Published October 21, 2026
Acupuncture uses thin needles placed by a practitioner during clinic visits. ActiPatch® is needle-free and drug-free. You use it at home, at work, and overnight, for hours at a time, with no appointment.
Needle-free at home
ActiPatch®
Needle-free, with nothing to feel. Use it at home for hours.
Acupuncture
Thin needles placed by a practitioner in scheduled, paid visits.
How does acupuncture work in practice?
A licensed practitioner places thin needles at chosen points, usually over a series of visits. Some people use it for back, neck, and joint pain. It needs scheduling, travel, a payment for each visit, and comfort with needles.
Where does ActiPatch® come out ahead?
No needles and no appointments. ActiPatch® sits over the sore area and works without any sensation.
One purchase covers up to 720 therapy hours, and you can keep using it between visits.
Can you use both?
Yes. Remove ActiPatch® during an acupuncture session, then put it back on afterward. Tell your practitioner you use it.
What does the research show?
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in people with knee osteoarthritis (Bagnato and colleagues, Rheumatology, 2016), the study reported a difference in pain outcomes between active and sham devices. Individual results vary.
ActiPatch® is FDA cleared (510(k) K192234) for over-the-counter adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. It has no drug ingredient, and you wear it for hours at a time right over the sore area.
Who should not use ActiPatch®?
Do not use if you have a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or other active implanted metallic or electronic device.
Do not use if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Not for use by or on children under 17.
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.
The device is not sterile. Do not place it in direct contact with open wounds.
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.
Read the supplied package insert before use.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a needle-free alternative to acupuncture for pain?
ActiPatch® is a needle-free, drug-free wearable for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain that you use at home.
Does ActiPatch® hurt?
No. It has no needles, heat, or tingling. It is designed to work without any sensation.
Primary sources
Educational information only. ActiPatch® is FDA 510(k) cleared (K192234) for over-the-counter (OTC) adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Read the package instructions and consult a clinician about persistent or worsening pain.