Arthritis & Joint Stiffness

When your joints feel older than you are, there’s still a lot we can do.

Stiff knees in the morning. Hips that argue with every step. Shoulders that complain about simple things like reaching into the cupboard or getting dressed. Fingers that don’t like cold weather or long days.

Whether you’ve been told you have arthritis, “wear and tear,” or just feel like your joints are aging faster than the rest of you, there are options besides “just live with it” or “wait until it’s bad enough for surgery.”

At Timpanogos Physical Therapy, we help people with arthritic and stiff joints:

• Move with less pain
• Stay active longer
• In some cases, delay or avoid surgery—especially when we combine traditional PT with tools like shockwave therapy and EMTT.

Joints we commonly treat

We regularly see arthritis and chronic stiffness in:

• Knees – stairs, squats, standing, and getting up from chairs
• Hips – walking, standing, getting in/out of cars, sleeping
• Shoulders – reaching overhead, washing hair, getting dressed
• Spine (neck & back) – sitting, standing, bending, twisting
• Hands & wrists – gripping, opening jars, typing, fine motor tasks
• Feet & ankles – walking, first steps in the morning, uneven ground

You don’t need perfect X-rays or an official label. If your joints feel stiff, sore, or “rusty,” we can help you sort it out.

What arthritis & joint stiffness can feel like

Common complaints we hear:

• “It takes a while to loosen up in the morning.”
• “Once I sit, I don’t want to get back up.”
• “I pay for it if I overdo it… But doing nothing hurts too.”
• Grinding, catching, or “crunchy” movement
• Swelling or warmth around a joint after activity
• A general sense that the joint is weaker, stiffer, or less trustworthy than it used to be

Arthritis doesn’t mean your joint is ruined. It means the joint needs competent care, consistent movement, and the right kind of loading.

How we help: more than just “exercise and hope”

Your plan always starts with a thorough evaluation:

• Where is the stiffness really coming from?
• How much of your pain is joint vs. muscle vs. tendon?
• What movements and activities matter most to you (stairs, sports, walking, work, hobbies)?

Then we build a plan that usually includes three pillars:

1. Calming irritation

• Gentle manual therapy to improve joint motion and ease muscle guarding
• Simple positioning and activity tweaks to reduce daily “grind” on the joint
• When appropriate, shockwave therapy, EMTT, and red/near-infrared light to help calm things down and support tissue health

2. Restoring motion

• Targeted mobility drills for the stiff joint and the areas above/below it
• Work on posture and movement patterns that are overloading certain areas
• Gradual exposure to movements you’ve been avoiding, in a way your joint can tolerate

3. Building support

• Strengthening the muscles that protect and unload the joint (hips for knees, shoulder blade muscles for shoulders, core for spine, etc.)
• Balance, stability, and coordination work so the joint feels more stable and trustworthy
• A realistic home program you can actually keep up with

We’ll always explain why we’re doing something and adjust based on how you respond—not just what a diagnosis code says.

Shockwave therapy: a powerful tool for painful, stiff joints

For many people with arthritis and joint stiffness, shockwave therapy has been a game-changer—especially when irritated tendons and thick, sore soft tissue surround joints.

We often use shockwave around arthritic joints when there is:

• Chronic tendon pain (like “jumper’s knee,” hip tendinopathy, or shoulder tendinosis)
• Thick, tight, or sensitive tissue that won’t calm down with exercise alone
• Persistent pain points that limit how much strengthening or walking you can tolerate

Shockwave can help by:

• Decreasing localized pain and sensitivity
• Supporting blood flow, tissue remodeling, and healing signals in stubborn areas
• Helping thick, stiff, or “angry” soft tissue move and glide better
• Making it possible to exercise more effectively and tolerate real-life activity

Over the years, we’ve seen shockwave help many patients avoid or delay joint surgeries (especially knees, hips, and shoulders) by:

• Reducing pain enough to postpone surgery in a meaningful way
• Helping people meet their activity goals without needing surgery right now
• Giving some joints a “second chance” when people were told surgery was the only option

It’s not magic, and it’s not right for everyone—but when it’s a good fit, it can be a big difference-maker as part of a complete treatment plan.

EMTT: a promising new option for arthritic and stiff joints

EMTT (Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy) is a newer, non-invasive technology that uses high-energy pulsed magnetic fields around painful or stiff areas.

For arthritis and chronic joint issues, we’re using EMTT to help:

• Support tissue metabolism and circulation around irritated joints
• Calm muscle guarding and deep achiness that often comes with arthritis
• Complement the work we’re doing with shockwave, manual therapy, and strengthening

Early research and clinical experience are promising—especially when EMTT is:

• Paired with shockwave therapy to address both soft tissues and the joint region
• Combined with good, progressive exercise and movement retraining

We’ll explain if and how EMTT might fit into your plan. It’s not a stand-alone cure, but it can be a powerful supporting player in rebuilding comfort and function.

What else can we combine with shockwave and EMTT?

To really change how your joints feel and function, we layer technology into a complete plan, not just “zap and go.”

Your care may also include:

Manual therapy

• Gentle joint mobilizations to improve glide and motion
• Soft-tissue work to reduce muscle tension and guarding
• Techniques to help your joints feel less blocked or stuck

Therapeutic exercise

• Strengthening to unload the joint (hips, glutes, core, shoulder girdle, etc.)
• Endurance work so you can walk, stand, climb stairs, or do hobbies without crashing after a few minutes
• Flexibility and control work matched to your actual life—not circus tricks

Red & near-infrared light

• Used around arthritic joints to support tissue recovery and comfort
• Often paired with shockwave/EMTT and exercise for a more complete session

Education & lifestyle strategy

• Guidance on activity pacing (how much is enough, how much is too much)
• Ideas for staying active without beating up your joints
• Honest conversation about when it’s time to consider imaging or talk to a surgeon—and when it isn’t

Are we trying to “cure” arthritis?

We want to be transparent and honest:

• Arthritis changes in the joint don’t vanish overnight.
• But pain and stiffness are influenced by far more than just what an X-ray shows.

With the right combination of:

• Shockwave therapy
• EMTT
• Strength and mobility work
• Hands-on care and smart activity changes

Many people can:

• Hurt less
• Move more freely
• Delay or avoid surgery for a meaningful amount of time
• Or, if surgery does eventually make sense, go into it stronger and in better shape—which usually means better outcomes.

FAQs

Can shockwave or EMTT replace a joint replacement?
 Not always. Some joints are genuinely at the point where replacement is the best option. But for many people in the “gray zone,” these tools—combined with intense rehab—can reduce pain, improve function, and buy time, sometimes for years.

Is this just masking pain?
 Our goal isn’t to numb symptoms and send you on your way. We’re trying to change how the joint and surrounding tissues behave and then back that up with better strength, control, and mechanics. Less pain + better movement = better long-term joint health.

Do I have to do the exercises too?
 Short answer: yes. Shockwave and EMTT work best when they’re partners, not the whole show. We’ll keep your program realistic, but some amount of movement and strength work is what makes your results last.

Ready to see what’s still possible with your joints?

If arthritis or joint stiffness has you feeling stuck between “just live with it” and “cut it out,” there’s a lot of territory in between.

Schedule an arthritis & joint stiffness evaluation at Timpanogos Physical Therapy, and we’ll:

• Take a close look at your joints, movement, and goals
• Talk honestly about where you are and what’s realistic
• Build a plan that may include shockwave therapy, EMTT, hands-on care, exercise, and light-based therapies

So your joints don’t just age—they adapt, with some smart help along the way.