What Is a Facet Joint?

Quick Answer

Facet joints are small joints located between the vertebrae of your spine. They help guide and control spinal movement while providing stability and preventing excessive motion. Facet joints are found throughout the neck, mid-back, and lower back. When these joints become irritated, stiff, or restricted, they may contribute to localized neck or back pain and reduced mobility.

What Are Facet Joints?

When people think about the spine, they usually picture the vertebrae and discs. But there are other important structures that help your spine move, and facet joints are one of them.

Facet joints are small joints located along the back of your spine. Each vertebra connects with the vertebra above and below it through these joints.

Like other joints in your body, facet joints have surfaces covered with cartilage and are surrounded by a joint capsule. This allows the connected vertebrae to move smoothly while helping keep the spine stable.

You have facet joints throughout your:

• Cervical spine: Your neck
• Thoracic spine: Your mid-back
• Lumbar spine: Your lower back

Together, these joints help your spine balance movement and stability.

What Do Facet Joints Do?

Your spine needs to be flexible enough to let you bend, twist, and turn, but stable enough to protect the spinal cord and support your body.

Facet joints help make that possible.

They work with your vertebrae, discs, muscles, ligaments, and other spinal structures to guide movement.

For example, when you:

• Turn your head
• Look over your shoulder
• Bend backward
• Rotate your torso
• Twist your body
• Move from sitting to standing

your facet joints are involved in controlling that movement.

They also help prevent excessive movement that could place unnecessary stress on the spine.

Think of facet joints as guides for your spine's movement. They help determine how much and in which direction individual sections of your spine can move.

Where Are Facet Joints Located?

Facet joints are located on the back side of the vertebrae.

Each typical spinal segment has paired facet joints that connect neighboring vertebrae.

Their orientation changes depending on which part of the spine you're looking at. This is one reason your neck, mid-back, and lower back have different ranges and patterns of movement.

Cervical Facet Joints

The facet joints in your neck allow your head and neck to move through a wide range of motion, including rotation and bending.

Irritation in these joints can sometimes contribute to neck stiffness or localized neck pain.

Thoracic Facet Joints

The facet joints in the mid-back help control movement through the thoracic spine while working with the rib cage to provide stability.

Lumbar Facet Joints

Facet joints in the lower back help support the lumbar spine while allowing movement such as bending and controlled rotation.

Because the lower back carries significant loads throughout the day, these joints can experience considerable stress.

What Causes Facet Joint Pain?

Facet joints can become irritated for several reasons.

Normal Wear and Tear

As we age, changes can occur throughout the spine, including the facet joints. Cartilage may gradually wear down, and the joints may become less mobile.

Injury

A sudden injury, such as a fall, sports injury, or car accident, can affect the structures surrounding a facet joint.

Repetitive Stress

Repeated movements, prolonged positions, or activities that place ongoing stress on the spine may contribute to irritation or stiffness.

Poor Movement Patterns

Changes in posture or movement can alter how forces are distributed throughout the spine. Over time, this may place additional stress on certain joints.

It's important to remember that facet joint pain can have symptoms similar to other types of neck or back pain, so symptoms alone don't necessarily identify the facet joint as the source.

What Does Facet Joint Pain Feel Like?

Symptoms can vary depending on which facet joints are affected.

Facet-related pain is often felt near the affected area of the spine and may become more noticeable with certain movements.

Possible symptoms include:

• Localized neck or back pain
• Stiffness
• Reduced range of motion
• Pain with certain movements or positions
• Tenderness around the affected area
• Muscle tightness or guarding

Pain from the cervical facet joints may sometimes be felt in nearby areas such as the shoulders or upper back.

Similarly, discomfort originating from the lower back may sometimes extend into the buttocks.

However, pain traveling farther down an arm or leg, particularly when accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness, may indicate nerve involvement rather than an isolated facet joint problem.

How Are Facet Joint Problems Diagnosed?

There isn't one symptom that can definitively tell you that a facet joint is responsible for your pain.

A healthcare professional may consider your symptoms, medical history, physical examination, range of motion, and movement patterns when evaluating your spine.

Imaging such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans may sometimes be used depending on the situation and what other conditions need to be evaluated.

The goal is to determine what is contributing to your symptoms, rather than simply identifying a structure that looks different on an image.

Can Chiropractic Care Help With Facet Joint Problems?

Because facet joints are part of the spine's movement system, chiropractic care may be appropriate for some people experiencing joint-related neck or back pain.

A chiropractor can assess spinal mobility, range of motion, posture, and surrounding muscles to determine whether restricted joint movement may be contributing to your symptoms.

Depending on the individual, care may include chiropractic adjustments, mobility work, exercise recommendations, and other conservative approaches.

The appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause of the pain. If symptoms suggest a condition requiring additional medical evaluation, a chiropractor may also recommend working with another healthcare professional.

How Can You Support Healthy Facet Joints?

You can't completely prevent age-related changes to your spine, but healthy movement habits can help support overall spinal function.

Consider:

• Staying physically active
• Maintaining strength in the muscles that support your spine
• Taking movement breaks if you sit for long periods
• Practicing good posture
• Using proper lifting techniques
• Avoiding prolonged positions that cause discomfort
• Addressing persistent pain rather than repeatedly pushing through it

Frequently Asked Questions

Are facet joints the same as discs?

No. Facet joints and spinal discs are different structures. Discs sit between the vertebral bodies and help absorb and distribute forces, while facet joints are located toward the back of the spine and help guide and limit spinal movement.

Can facet joints cause neck pain?

Yes. Irritation or dysfunction involving the cervical facet joints can contribute to localized neck pain and stiffness. However, neck pain can have many different causes, so an evaluation is important when symptoms persist.

Can facet joint problems heal?

Many causes of facet-related pain can be managed with conservative approaches, depending on the underlying problem. Treatment may focus on reducing irritation, improving mobility, strengthening supporting muscles, and addressing contributing movement patterns.

The Bottom Line

Facet joints are small but important joints that help your spine move while providing stability. They work alongside your discs, muscles, ligaments, and vertebrae every time you bend, turn, or move your neck and back.

Like other joints, facet joints can become irritated or less mobile due to injury, repetitive stress, or age-related changes. If you're experiencing persistent neck or back pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility, identifying the source of your symptoms can help determine the most appropriate next step.

Support Your Spinal Health

At The LA Chiropractor, we evaluate spinal movement, joint mobility, posture, and other factors that may contribute to neck and back discomfort. If you're experiencing persistent pain or stiffness, an evaluation can help you better understand what's going on and what options may be appropriate for you.

Visit The LA Chiropractor in Century City or Marina del Rey to learn more about your spinal health and care options.