Motor Vehicle Accidents
Whiplash-type forces can irritate or injure the facet joints, particularly at C2/C3 and C5/C6.
Lakeside Chiropractic · Joondalup
Cervical Facet Pain Treatment in Joondalup
One of the most common and underdiagnosed sources of neck pain, cervical facet syndrome responds well to the right conservative care.
Cervical facet pain can produce deep, achy neck pain, restricted movement, and referred pain into the head, shoulders, or between the shoulder blades. At Lakeside Chiropractic in Joondalup, it is something we assess and manage regularly.
Assess the Joint
Movement, tenderness, and pain-provoking patterns are examined
Look Beyond the Neck
Referred pain may reach the head, jaw, shoulder, or upper back
Build for Recovery
Hands-on care is combined with exercise where appropriate
Understanding the joints
What Are the Cervical Facet Joints?
Each vertebra in your neck has two pairs of small joints called facet joints, also known as zygapophyseal joints.
These joints connect each vertebra to the vertebrae above and below. They guide and limit movement, share the load through the spine, and are richly supplied with nerve endings.
That nerve supply makes facet joints capable of producing significant pain when irritated or injured.
36–67%
Reported prevalence of facet-mediated pain in controlled chronic neck-pain studies
29%
Confirmed facet-joint pain in one study of chronic whiplash-associated disorders
A review by Gellhorn (2011) found that cervical facet joints are implicated as a source of neck pain in a substantial proportion of patients, particularly following whiplash-type injuries.
Why facet pain develops
What Causes It?
Facet joints can become painful through sudden injury, repetitive loading, sustained posture, or gradual degeneration.
Falls or Other Injuries
Sudden loading through the neck may affect joint movement and trigger persistent local pain.
Screen Use or Manual Work
Sustained postures and repeated loading can irritate the joints and surrounding muscles over time.
Age-Related Degeneration
Degenerative changes can alter how the facet joints move and distribute load.
A study by Persson et al. (2016) found that around 29% of patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders had persistent pain confirmed as originating from cervical facet joints using controlled diagnostic nerve blocks.
Common symptoms
How Cervical Facet Pain Can Feel
Facet pain is typically described as a deep, dull ache on one or both sides of the neck. It is often worse in the morning, after sustained postures, or with certain movements.
Deep, Achy Neck Pain
Pain is often concentrated on one side, although both sides may be involved.
Head, Ear, or Jaw Pain
Upper cervical levels may refer pain into the back of the head, ear, or jaw.
Shoulder or Shoulder-Blade Pain
Lower cervical levels may refer pain into the shoulder, upper arm, or between the shoulder blades.
Stiffness and Reduced Range
Rotation and extension are commonly limited or uncomfortable.
Pain With Looking Up or Turning
Symptoms may worsen when looking up, turning to one side, or sitting for long periods.
Tenderness Over the Joint
The affected level may be tender when examined directly.
Unlike disc-related pain, cervical facet pain does not usually produce tingling or numbness into the arm unless nerve-root involvement is also present.
Clinical assessment
How Is It Diagnosed?
Cervical facet pain is diagnosed primarily through clinical examination rather than imaging alone.
A prospective cohort study by Schneider et al. (2014) found that a combination of manual spinal examination, palpation for segmental tenderness, and the extension-rotation test produced a specificity of 84% for identifying facet-mediated pain.
Palpation for segmental tenderness showed a sensitivity of 94%, making it a useful screening tool in clinical practice.
Imaging such as X-ray or MRI can show facet-joint degeneration, but it does not confirm that the joints are the source of pain on its own.
The clinical picture and response to treatment remain central to the diagnosis.
- History: We review the onset, location, pattern, aggravating movements, and any history of trauma.
- Movement testing: Rotation, extension, and other movements are assessed to identify painful or restricted patterns.
- Joint examination: The cervical levels are examined for segmental tenderness and altered movement.
- Neurological screening: Nerve function is checked when symptoms suggest possible nerve-root involvement.
Individualised conservative care
How We Help at Lakeside Chiropractic
We assess which levels are involved, what movements are provocative, and which treatment approach best fits your presentation.
Chiropractic Adjustment and Mobilisation
Targeted techniques are applied to the affected cervical levels to restore movement, reduce joint irritation, and improve pain.
The Bryans et al. (2014) chiropractic guidelines issued strong recommendations for manipulation and manual therapy combined with exercise for chronic neck pain.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Hands-on release of the cervical and upper thoracic muscles helps reduce secondary muscle pain and restore more normal movement patterns.
Dry Needling
Trigger points in the suboccipital, splenius, and levator scapulae muscles can generate referred pain that mimics the joint itself. Dry needling addresses these areas directly.
Rehabilitation and Exercise
Restoring deep cervical flexor strength and endurance helps stabilise the joints and reduce repetitive loading.
Cold Laser Therapy
Low-level laser may be applied over the affected joint levels to reduce local inflammation and pain.
Interferential Current Therapy (IFC)
Electrical stimulation is applied to the cervical region to reduce pain and muscle spasm, particularly in acute or highly irritable presentations.
Kinesiology Taping
Taping may be applied to the cervical and upper thoracic region to offload the joints and provide postural support.
Activator Method
A low-force, instrument-assisted option may be used when a gentler approach to joint treatment is more appropriate.
Come and see us
Persistent Neck Pain Is Worth Properly Assessing
If you have persistent neck pain, stiffness, or referred pain into your head or shoulder that has not settled, it is worth having the facet joints properly assessed.
Many people manage facet pain for months or years without knowing what is actually causing it.
We see patients from Currambine, Woodvale, Kingsley, Duncraig, Wanneroo, Tapping, Carramar, Heathridge, Edgewater, Mullaloo, Padbury, Banksia Grove, Yanchep, Gnangara, and across Perth's northern suburbs.
Call us on 9300 0095 or book online at lakesidechiro.com.au.
Disclaimer: This page provides general health information only and is not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Results vary between individuals. Please consult a qualified health professional to discuss your individual circumstances.
Supporting literature
References
- Gellhorn AC. Cervical facet-mediated pain. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2011;22(3):447-58. PMID 21824586
- Persson M, Sorensen J, Gerdle B. Chronic whiplash associated disorders: responses to nerve blocks of cervical zygapophyseal joints. Pain Med. 2016;17(12):2162-2175. PMID 28025352
- Schneider GM, Jull G, et al. Derivation of a clinical decision guide in the diagnosis of cervical facet joint pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014;95(9):1695-701. PMID 24662813
- Bryans R, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014;37(1):42-63. PMID 24262386
Location Details
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Monday | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
