The facet joints link two vertebrae directly above and below to form the movable part of a functional spinal unit. Irritation, inflammation, trauma, or misalignment causes pain to the facet joint and the soft tissues surrounding the joint.
The facet joints can become painful because they contain nerve endings. These nerves relay information to the brain regarding joint position and movement, allowing for proper balance, coordination, and postural alignment. These nerves can become irritated by compression or inflammation, resulting in pain.
Causes
- Faulty posture and mechanics
- Trauma, sudden jerking motion to the neck, whiplash from a car accident,
- Sleeping with a twisted neck, the habit of sleeping on stomach with neck twisted
- Degenerative diseases, arthritic joints
- Inflammation, or infections
- Overuse due to sports, prolonged sustained posture, or heavy labour
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain in the area of the facet joint, sensitive to the touch
- Restricted movement of the spine, especially with extension and rotation
- Musculature around the area is tight and in spasm
- Irritation to the joint and it’s supporting structure due to misalignment
- Neck pain that radiates into the shoulders, arms, or head
- The sound of bony structure rubbing over each other with neck movement
- Abnormal curvature of the spine
Chiropractic Solution
Reducing joint dysfunctions and alleviate pressure and pain cause by spinal misalignments
Restoring the optimal function of the facet joint can relieve the stress on the joint and the surrounding tissues