ActiPatch® vs Heat Wraps and Heat Patches like ThermaCare: Hours of Relief Without Heat
By Electrome Corporation · Published October 21, 2026
Air-activated heat wraps such as ThermaCare warm the skin for a number of hours and are then thrown away. ActiPatch® does something different. It is nonthermal and drug-free, and it delivers pulsed shortwave therapy (PSWT) over the sore spot for hours at a time, day or night, without warming the skin.
Heat for hours or therapy without heat
ActiPatch®
No heat and no sensation. Worn overnight and under clothing for hours.
Heat wrap
Air-activated warmth for about 8 hours. Not for sleeping on. Single use.
How do heat wraps and heat patches work?
Disposable heat wraps use iron powder that warms when exposed to air, holding a low heat against the skin for about 8 hours. Labels warn against sleeping on them, using them with other heat sources, and placing them on sensitive skin, and some people find the heat uncomfortable through a long day. Reusable heat pads need an outlet or a microwave and keep you in one place.
Brand names mentioned here are trademarks of their owners, who are not affiliated with ActiPatch® or Electrome.
Where does ActiPatch® come out ahead?
No heat on the skin, so ActiPatch® can be worn overnight and under clothing in warm weather without the discomfort or skin warnings that come with heat.
One device provides up to 720 therapy hours, instead of a new wrap every 8 hours. It weighs about 9.5 grams and is silent, with no sensation at all.
It is FDA cleared as a medical device for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain and was studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.
Can you use both?
Yes. Many people use heat for comfort and ActiPatch® for hours of therapy. Do not place the loop under a heat wrap, and follow the heat product's label. ActiPatch® contains no drug, so it adds no drug interaction.
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
Does ActiPatch® get warm?
No. ActiPatch® is nonthermal. It delivers pulsed shortwave therapy with no noticeable heat or tingling, which is why it can be worn overnight.
What is an alternative to ThermaCare for back pain?
ActiPatch® is a drug-free, nonthermal wearable for adjunctive treatment of musculoskeletal pain, including back pain. One device provides up to 720 therapy hours.
Can I sleep with a pain patch on?
Heat wrap labels generally warn against sleeping on them. ActiPatch® produces no heat and can be worn overnight as its package insert directs.
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.