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Facet Joints: Gliding Your
Way To Better Health



Bottom Line:
So, what are facet joints?

Facet joints are the tiny joints within your spine. There are 24 individual vertebrae that are connected to one another by facet joints on either side.

Each facet joint is lubricated by synovial fluid. It is the lubrication and alignment of the facet joint that allows the normal slide and glide motion to occur. These joints that enable us to move our spine forwards, backwards, side to side and rotationally.

These joints are special and they are unique and have a key responsibility in each part of the spine. The angle of the joint’s changes in the spinal structure to help manage its weight loading ability, and the degree of movement and stability required at that particular level. For example:

  • In your neck the cervical spine the joints are angled at 45 degrees.
  • In your mid back, the thoracic spine, the joints are angled at 60 degrees.
  • In your lower back, the lumbar spine, the joints are angled at 90 degrees
As you go through life or encounter a spinal injury, your facet joints end up taking on extra load, and this excess stress and pressure can cause inflammation within the synovial fluid and accelerate the wear on your facet joints – if neglected. This results in the beginning of the degenerative process - this causes changes in the joint size, shape and surfaces effecting the normal slide and glide movement. When these bones spurs and adhesions build up, it restricts the normal movement and eventually leads to pain and dysfunction.

Next Steps:
Here at the AMI Clinic we see lots of patients with facet joint problems and through spinal manipulations/mobilizations, various exercise and myofascial release therapies and lifestyle modification we can restore that natural slide and glide movement and eliminate your pain and restore your dysfunction.

Book In Today
Visit the AMI Clinic in Bedford to get yourself checked and corrected!
Call us: 01234 307565

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