About Facet Joint Pain
Facet joint pain is deep spinal joint pain that often feels worse with arching, twisting, or standing for long periods. Physical therapy reduces irritation with targeted mobility and rebuilds trunk and hip strength so the joints are not repeatedly compressed. The goal is durable movement and fewer back or neck flare-ups.
Expected Recovery Window
Acute facet irritation: 2–6 weeks. Persistent or arthritic cases: 6–12+ weeks depending on strength and mobility drivers.
Common Symptoms
Localised back or neck pain that feels deep and achy; pain worse with standing, arching back, or rotation; stiffness after sitting; pain that improves with gentle movement; possible referred pain into the buttock or shoulder blade without true nerve symptoms.
Common Causes
Repetitive spinal extension or rotation; prolonged sitting with poor tolerance followed by sudden activity; age-related facet arthritis; reduced hip mobility increasing spine load; deconditioning of trunk stabilisers; postural overload in cyclists and lifters.
How We Treat Facet Joint Pain
It starts with getting people in ASAP. We restore spinal and hip mobility, reduce joint irritation with manual therapy, and build trunk and hip strength to improve load distribution. We also coach posture and movement strategies for lifting, running, and cycling to reduce repeated facet compression.
