Back pain that’s worse on extension is often related to the facet joints. The facets are planar joints, they rest flat against each other but normally there is a healthy amount of joint space and soft tissue that exists in between each facet in the form of a joint capsule and other structures like nerve endings. The facets are richly innervated which is why when they become irritated they can cause quite a lot of pain. The facet joints are most likely to become irritated in an extension range of motion which usually causes localized pain that can be diffuse across the low back. Chiropractic adjustments can usually help this type of pain because they help to re-establish the healthy joint space in between the facets and help to restore normal range of motion.
