For millions of people living with arthritis, the advice to “stay active” can feel like an impossible contradiction. How are you supposed to exercise when the very joints that carry your weight are stiff, swollen, and chronically painful?

It’s a frustrating cycle: the pain stops you from moving, and a lack of movement often allows stiffness and weakness to get even worse, further limiting your independence. The key to solving this problem isn’t to stop moving, but to move smarter. In this blog, Advanced Foot Care of NJ will show you how!

The Smart Approach to Exercising with Arthritic Feet

The goal of exercising with arthritis is to maintain flexibility and strength without causing a painful flare-up that sets you back for days. Consider:

Embrace Low-Impact Activities: High-impact exercises like running on pavement or jumping can be jarring to sensitive, arthritic joints.
- Instead, focus on activities that get your heart rate up without the impact. Think swimming and water aerobics, where the buoyancy of the water supports your body weight and reduces stress on your joints.
- Stationary bicycles or elliptical machines are also excellent choices. They provide a great cardiovascular workout with smooth, controlled movements.
Support is Non-Negotiable: Your footwear is your first and most important line of defense. Choose shoes with a stiff, supportive sole (it shouldn’t easily bend in the middle) and ample cushioning to absorb the shock of every step.
- A “rocker bottom” sole, which is thicker and rounded, can also be incredibly helpful as it allows you to roll through your step rather than bending a painful big toe joint.
Listen to Your Body: It’s crucial to learn the difference between the “good” soreness of a muscle that has been worked and the “bad,” sharp pain of an irritated joint.
- A little post-workout muscle fatigue is normal and expected. However, sharp, stabbing, or increasing pain within the joint itself is a clear signal to stop, rest, and perhaps re-evaluate the activity.
- Pushing through joint pain will only increase inflammation and lead to a setback.

When Pain Still Limits You: A Modern, Non-Invasive Solution

Before considering more invasive options, there are advanced therapies designed to manage pain and inflammation at the source.

One such treatment? Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy (EMTT).

What is EMTT?

EMTT is a comfortable, non-invasive procedure that uses high-energy magnetic pulses to treat musculoskeletal conditions, including the pain and inflammation associated with arthritic joints.

The process is simple and painless:

You remain fully clothed.
A therapy loop is positioned over the painful area.
The device transmits magnetic pulses that penetrate the tissue, helping to reactivate cell metabolism and normalize the body’s physiological processes.

A single session typically lasts between 5 and 20 minutes. EMTT is a largely risk-free and side-effect-free method for managing chronic pain, allowing you to pursue an active lifestyle with greater comfort.

Get Moving and Feel Better!

You don’t have to let arthritis dictate the terms of your life. If you’re ready to explore your options, a professional evaluation is your best next step!

At Advanced Foot Care of NJ, LLC, our doctor and staff proudly serve the communities of Little Falls, Cedar Grove, Verona, Stoney Road, Sandy Hill, Albion Place, and Great Notch. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.