Facet Syndrome

Description

Facet syndrome is a painful irritation in the back that results from injury to the facet joints or disks of the spine. Twisting, extension, or arching of the back may produce injury to one of the joints of the spine, including the disk; this results in excessive motion of the facet joint, which causes cartilage wear in the joint and pressure on nerves as they exit the spine and spinal cord. Facet syndrome is due to the cartilage wear of the facet joint.

Common signs and symptoms

• A chronic dull ache in the low back that is worse with hyperextension and rotation

• Pain in the lower back, buttocks, hips, and sometimes the legs

• Stiffness of the lower back (occasionally)

Causes

Repetitive or excessive force causes injury to the cartilage surfaces of the facet joints and is often associated with injury to the disk of the spine. This is especially true with repetitive hyperextension or arching of the back, excessive hyperextension with rotation of the back, and rotation of the back.

Factors that increase risk

• Any sport that requires hyperextension or arching of the back, either excessively with rotation or repetitively (golf, football, gymnastics, diving, weightlifting, dancing, rifle shooting, wrestling, tennis, swimming, volleyball, track and field, and rugby and other contact sports)

• Poor physical conditioning (strength, flexibility)

• Poor technique

Preventive measures

• Use proper technique.

< div class='tao-gold-member'>

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Related posts:

Birth Control and Sports Biceps Tendon Subluxation Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Dislocation or Subluxation Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Dislocation Subtalar Dislocation

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Join

Full access? Get Clinical Tree