What can cause a facet joint sprain?

What can cause a facet joint sprain?

• A. Sedentary lifestyle only.
• B. Sudden twisting/bending, trauma, falls, motor vehicle accidents, or repetitive strain.
• C. Infections.
• D. Diet.

Answer: (B)

A facet joint sprain happens when the joints between the vertebrae and their surrounding ligaments and joint capsule are overstretched or torn by sudden or repetitive motion. This most often occurs with abrupt twisting or bending, direct trauma, falls, motor vehicle crashes, or repetitive strain from activities that repeatedly load and irritate the spine. These scenarios push the facet joints beyond their normal end range, leading to pain and muscle guarding. Sedentary lifestyle doesn’t directly cause a sprain, though it can contribute to weakness or poor posture that may worsen symptoms over time. Infections would produce inflammation with fever and systemic signs, and the pain pattern, exam findings, and tests would point away from a simple sprain. Diet doesn’t cause facet joint sprains either.

A facet joint sprain happens when the joints between the vertebrae and their surrounding ligaments and joint capsule are overstretched or torn by sudden or repetitive motion. This most often occurs with abrupt twisting or bending, direct trauma, falls, motor vehicle crashes, or repetitive strain from activities that repeatedly load and irritate the spine. These scenarios push the facet joints beyond their normal end range, leading to pain and muscle guarding.

Sedentary lifestyle doesn’t directly cause a sprain, though it can contribute to weakness or poor posture that may worsen symptoms over time. Infections would produce inflammation with fever and systemic signs, and the pain pattern, exam findings, and tests would point away from a simple sprain. Diet doesn’t cause facet joint sprains either.