Is your arthritis a pain in the back?
Take Home Messages:
Facet joints control the movement between the vertebrae of the spine. Wear and tear (osteoarthritis) of the facet joints of the spine is not associated with the presence of low back pain.
Why the research matters:
It has been suggested that wear and tear (osteoarthritis) of the facet joints of the spine causes low back pain, however this theory has not been adequately tested. Determining whether facet joint osteoarthritis is associated with the presence of low back pain is important in developing effective and appropriate treatment for pain relief.
What the research involved:
188 patients, that were also participants of the Framingham Heart Study, underwent a CT scan to look for the presence of degenerative changes (wear and tear) in the facet joints in their spines. The participants also completed a questionnaire to determine whether they had experienced back pain in the last 12 months.
Summary of research findings:
The study found that:
- Osteoarthritis is common in the facet joints of the spine, affecting 59.6% of males and 66.7% of females;
- Osteoarthritis in the facet joints becomes more common with increasing age, affecting 89.2% of individuals between the ages of 60 and 69 years old;
- Facet joint osteoarthritis is most common in the lumbar spine (lower back), at the L4-L5 level; and
- There is no link between facet joint osteoarthritis and the presence of low back pain.
Original research:
Facet joint osteoarthritis and low back pain in the community-based population.
Kalichman L, Li L, Kim DH, Guermazi A, Berkin V, O'Donnell CJ, Hoffmann U, Cole R, Hunter DJ.
Spine. 2008 Nov 1;33(23):2560-5.