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, often 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 compressed and stiff, these little joints take extra load, get irritated and lock up, and the muscles around them tighten to protect the area.

Gravity Stretching unloads exactly the joints that are working too hard. Hanging in straps lengthens the spine and opens the space between the vertebrae, which takes pressure off the facet joints, while slow, supported movement helps them glide freely again instead of grinding. Nothing is forced - the straps hold your weight, 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. This is a wellness practice, not a diagnosis or a cure - if the pain is severe, constant, or radiates down a limb, get it checked by a doctor first.