The spine is composed of a series of vertebrae, which run throughout the cervical (upper), thoracic (middle) and lumbar (lower) back. Between each set of vertebrae is a facet joint, which allows the spine to flex, bend and twist. Over time, the natural aging process may cause the facet joints to deteriorate, resulting in pain, stiff or locking joints and limited mobility. This condition is commonly referred to as facet disease or osteoarthritis of the spine. In addition to aging, other contributing factors include gender, genetics, excess weight and lifestyle habits.

If you’re living with facet disease in the lower back, the following three exercises may help relieve your lower back pain:

1. Abdominal contractions. Lie on your back with your knees bent and the small of your back against the floor. Gently tighten your abdominal muscles. Hold this position, then release and repeat.
2. Child’s pose. Kneel down, with your legs parallel and the tops of your feet resting against the floor. Sit back, lean forward and extend your arms as far as you can reach. Keep your head facing the floor. Hold this position, then release and repeat.
3. Full back release. Sit on a chair and place your feet a small distance apart. Gently curl your head downward, then use your arms to reach between your legs, toward the floor. Relax your back and round yourself completely forward. Hold this position, then release and repeat.

You should always check with a physician before trying any new exercises, and stop immediately if you experience any pain while performing them.

In some cases, facet disease patients may not be able to achieve relief through conservative treatment methods, such as the above exercises. If you think you might benefit from minimally invasive surgery, please contact USA Spine Care today so that we can provide you with more information about the outpatient procedures we use to treat facet disease. More than 75,000 patients have trusted USA Spine Care to relieve their chronic neck or back pain since 2005. We even offer a free MRI review* to let you know whether you might be a candidate for one of our minimally invasive surgeries.

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