Zygapophyseal joints are also named
facet joints. Facet is a bit easier to pronounce than zygapophyseal,
and Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka knows ‘facet’ is a whole lot easier to type than 'zygaopophyseal’! These joints are documented to be the source of neck-related
pain for many adults of all ages. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka provides
gentle chiropractic spinal manipulation to alleviate
neck pain like that created by facet joint innervation.
FOUNDATIONAL STUDY
Charting of normal volunteers’
responses to stimulation of cervical facet joints in the 1990s was foundational.
Five volunteers stepped up to have their cervical spine facet
joints irritated to see where neck pain and arm pain were felt.
Wow! These volunteers’ pain reactions produced
some much appreciated easy-to-read
pain charts. (1) A follow up study of 10 patients with cervical spine pain compared their pain to that described
in the normal volunteers’ pain drawings to validate the original
charts from normal volunteers. (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka sees confirmation
of these normal volunteers’ pain reports in our Sitka neck pain
patients! Decompression of spinal nerves with chiropractic helps.
NEW INPUT ON CERVICAL FACET JOINTS
Novel information from a current-day
dissection project added new facts to the role
cervical facet joints (aka zygapophyseal joints) have in
neck pain and arm pain. At some levels, more than one medial branch was seen.
Direct facet joint branches were seen that came
from the dorsal root of the spinal nerve. These were separate
from the medial branches in their direct route to the facet
joint. Current day researchers suggest
that there is a more diverse pattern
of innervation than has already been documented. (3)
Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka appreciates the nuances of spine pain and the research that discovered them.
EXAM AND TREATMENT
Clinical observation, examination, and imaging results
lead the diagnosis of neck pain given the complexity
of cervical facet joints. (4) The cervical spine facet joint is innervated by
mechanoreceptive (mechanical pressure-inducing) and nociceptive (nervous system
related pain-inducing) nerve fibers involving the dorsal root
ganglia and end processes in the spinal cord. The central nervous
system is complex and quick to respond to these painful stimuli,
both pressure and nerve related. (5) That’s why your
Sitka chiropractor takes time in examining, diagnosing and
treating Sitka neck pain. There are a multitude of
factors to consider! Our Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management is gentle, non-thrust spinal manipulation of the cervical spine for Sitka neck pain relief.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to the PODCAST
with Dr. Sean Delahunt on the
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
shares the effectiveness and gentleness
of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management for his male patient with neck pain and tingling in
his arm and hand.
Schedule your next Sitka
chiropractic appointment with Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka. Pick your word: zygapophyseal
or facet! We are here to talk, diagnose, and
treat them for relief of neck and arm pain.
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."