Facet Joint Arthropathy: The 2nd Most Common Type of Low Back Pain (Parts 1-3)

As the most pull-apartable bits of the spine they have a high maintenance load, which is made possible by their voluminous blood supply.

Part 1 Explains the way the facet joints work in their dual roles of guiding lumbar flexion while keeping the spinal segments hooked together. It explains how the paired facets are minimally load-bearing and highly-wired for pain.

Part 2 One-sided back pain and sciatica are the common manifestation of facet arthropathy. This section explains how various factors alter stress forces through a facet and lead to inflammation, swelling and joint breakdown. We go through each scenario - faulty spinal alignment from weak abs muscles, sustained stooped working postures. inequality of leg length, thinning of the disc at the same spinal level and reflex inhibition of the muscles that protect the facets.

Part 3 Is all about what you can do yourself to get rid of your back pain and/or sciatica. The good news is that the high vascularity (blood supply) of the facets means they can abley respond to the demands of therapy in a highly efficient and gratifying way. You only have to know how.

The accompanying podcast on facet joint arthropathy is an overview available to all subscribers. You hear about the difference between acute, sub-acute and chronic stages, how often and when to do the exercises, when to advance on to the next level - and what to do if you are going swimmingly and then had a hiccup.