Spinal facet joints are like other joints in your body. Each joint is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and synovial fluid that nourishes and lubricates the joint. Cartilage coats the joint’s surfaces helping each joint to smoothly move, or articulate.
Facet joints are small joints located at the back of the spine. They help connect one vertebra to the next and allow the spine to bend, extend, and rotate while helping prevent excessive movement.
Where Are Facet Joints Located?
Two facet joints are located at the back, or posterior side, of each vertebral body. Facet joints join two vertebrae creating a motion segment. Intervertebral disc height and spinal ligaments help keep the joint stable, aid motion and prevent excessive forward, hyperflexion, and backward, hyperextension, motion.
You can learn more about the larger structure of the spine in our article on anatomy of the spine.
What Do Facet Joints Do?
Facet joints help guide normal spinal movement. They work together with the intervertebral discs, ligaments, tendons, and muscles to support the spine during daily activities such as standing, walking, bending, lifting, and turning.
Because these joints are involved in movement and stability, irritation or injury around the facet joints may contribute to pain in the neck, mid back, or lower back.
Facet Joints and Pain
Medial branch nerves carry pain away from the facet joint.
When a facet joint becomes irritated, inflamed, injured, or affected by age-related changes, pain signals may be carried through nearby medial branch nerves. This can contribute to localized spine pain and stiffness.
Facet-related pain may be associated with back pain, neck pain, or stiffness that changes with movement or posture.
Facet Joints and Whiplash
Whiplash is a common type of hyperflexion/hyperextension injury. This type of injury can affect soft tissues in the neck and may also irritate the joints and structures that help stabilize the cervical spine.
Related Treatment Options
If facet joint irritation is suspected as part of a pain condition, treatment recommendations may depend on the patient’s symptoms, diagnosis, medical history, and physical examination findings.
Related treatment options may include physical therapy, spinal injections, or radiofrequency neurotomy when clinically appropriate.
When to Seek Evaluation
Persistent back pain, neck pain, stiffness, or pain that limits normal movement should be evaluated by a qualified medical provider. Newark Rehabilitation Center helps patients understand the possible source of their pain and review appropriate treatment options based on their condition.