Facet Syndrome

Facet syndrome is a common cause of low back pain.

Facet joints are the small joints that connect each of your vertebrae to one another. Depending on the area of your spine they allow for movements like rotation bending forward, leaning back, or side bending. Pain from facet syndrome is often worse when moving from sitting to standing or going from a bent over position to standing upright.

What are the main causes of facet syndrome?

  • Being overweight

  • Overuse and repetitive movements

  • Auto accidents and whiplash

  • Pre- existing arthritic conditions

  • Long periods of time spent sitting.

With proper education you can prevent many of these causes and manage your low back pain.

Patients who chronically suffer from this condition are often in poor physical condition and lack the proper strength and endurance of the back stabilizing muscles. The importance of maintaining a strong core to protect your low back is extremely important!

In cases where the injury stems from a problem related to overuse, poor posture or improper exercise, there are steps that can be taken to help you avoid these injuries from happening. Proper instruction, from Dr. Baldwin, about your postural habits can reduce the detrimental effects of sitting on the spine. Education about correct lifting form can reduce these episodes of low back pain and help you build a healthy strong spine.

Treatment of Facet Syndrome

Exact treatment of facet syndrome at Michigan Complete Chiropractic & Rehab can depend on your type of injury and unique case. It is common for low back pain to result from lack of mobility elsewhere in the body, whether it be from the ankles, mid-back, or pelvis.

Dr. Baldwin use research-based techniques and functional testing to test and treat low back pain. The goal of your treatment process is to correct any joint restrictions, muscle imbalances and tissue restrictions that may be contributing to your low back pain.

Some possible beneficial treatment options for Facet Syndrome include:

Our thorough evaluation will assess mid-back, low-back, hip and ankle mobility, dynamic core and hip stability, and proprioception (brain-joint awareness) to create a personalized treatment program to not only rehabilitate your pain but correct the underlying cause.