03/11/2022
THORACIC SPINE - NERVOUS SYSTEM AND VISCERAL INFLUENCE OF A THORACIC FACET JOINT RESTRICTION
⠀
Facet joints are small joints at each segment of the spine that provide stability and help guide motion. The facet joints can become painful due to arthritis, a back injury or mechanical stress to the back. The facet joints are paired joints in the back and neck, one pair at each vertebral level (one joint on each side of the vertebrae). These joints have opposing surfaces of cartilage and a surrounding capsule that is filled with synovial fluid, which reduces the friction between bones that rub together.
⠀
A thoracic facet restriction can have a huge influence to the sympathetic nervous system which is located in the thoracic spine. It is one of the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the other being the parasympathetic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system functions to regulate the body's unconscious actions.
⠀
The sympathetic nervous system's primary process is to stimulate the body's fight-or-flight response. It is, however, constantly active at a basic level to maintain homeostasis. It is controlling organs like the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, kidneys and intestines. If there is a subluxation your sympathetic nervous system isn't able to function optimally! Considering your nervous system is the master system of the human body and controls every cell, tissue and organ it is essential to correct that kind of restriction very quickly!
Most conservative treatments for facet restrictions involves postural correction incl. exercising, soft tissue treatment and osteopathic manipulation of the affected areas. Physical therapists, osteopathic clinicians and chiropractors are adept at restoring restricted and painful facet joints to move and can reestablish normal motion.
In my next posts I will talk about specific myofascial and chiropractic treatment of thoracic facet joint problems - stay tuned!
