Morning Aches and Pains

If you wake with pain or stiffness in your back, you are not alone.  People of all ages and activity levels experience back pain or stiffness in the mornings due to wear and tear of the facet joint cartilage, known as facet joint osteoarthritis.

Mild wear and tear of the cartilage of the spine causes friction in the joint resulting in swelling or inflammation, generally referred to as arthritis. Due to reduced movement when we sleep, there is an increase of fluid in the cartilage of the joints.  This contributes to morning aches and pains. Such stiffness should improve once you stand up, walk around and/or exercise, as your joints are compressed and unloaded and fluid build-up is “pumped out” of the joints.

In an effort to accelerate the recovery associated with movement, try this simple exercise before you get out of bed: Seated Spine Stretch (Morning Stretch).   

Contact the Physical Therapists at Spine and Sports Rehabilitation Center for more information on learning other ways to deal with the aches and pains associated with normal and abnormal wear and tear of the spine.

Seated (morning) Spine Stretch