How to ease facet joint pain (that local back ache)?

That sharp, local ache right beside the spine - worse when you lean back or twist, easier when you bend forward - is usually the facet joints talking. These are the small joints that link the vertebrae and let you bend and rotate. When the spine is squeezed and stiff, these little joints take extra load, get irritated, and the muscles around them clench to protect the area.

Gravity Stretching unloads exactly the joints that are working too hard. In the hang the spine lengthens and the space between the vertebrae opens - decompression of the body creates space and takes the pressure off the facets, and slow, supported movement helps them glide freely again instead of grinding. Nothing is forced: we start small, and we stop and relax rather than push through any block.

Keep it gentle and regular and the area usually loosens session by session. Listen to your body - sharp means softer, never harder.