What is a cervical facet joint?
Facets are the spine’s system of joints that enable movement. Another term for the facet joints are Zygapophyseal or Apophyseal Joints. At the back of each vertebra are two sets of facet joints. One pair faces upward and one downward; with one joint on the left and right sides of each vertebra. Facet joints allow flexion (bend forward), extension (bend backward), and twisting motion. In general, the spine is made more stable due to the interlocking nature of the facet joints to the adjacent vertebrae. Similar to other joints in the body, each facet joint is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and produces fluid to nourish and lubricate the joint (synovial fluid). The joint surfaces are coated with a thick spongy material termed articular cartilage that enables the bones of each joint to smoothly move against the other. What causes the cervical facet joints to become painful? Osteoarthritis is probably the most common cause of cervical facet joint pain. This degenerative diseas
