While much research points to mechanical injury of the cervical facet joint and its capsular ligament as a likely mechanism for whiplash injury, findings remain speculative for the potential of such injuries to initiate and/or maintain pain. Mechanical injury of the cervical facet joint has been suggested during whiplash kinematics in experimental studies. However, determining a relationship between these mechanical conditions and pain requires simultaneous incorporation of controlled injury conditions, relevant biomechanical measurements, and methods for evaluating physiologic and clinical outcomes of pain. Therefore, this study presents the development of such an in vivo model in the rat. To this end, we provide a summary of preliminary findings characterizing the relationship between facet joint distraction and pain symptoms. A newly developed model of in vivo facet joint loading using controlled distraction across the C6/C7 joint is presented. Preliminary findings of a common clinical measure of behavioral hypersensitivity (mechanical allodynia) are presented as a quantifiable gauge of pain symptoms for imposed facet injury. In addition to data supporting the accuracy, reproducibility, and validity of these methods, preliminary biomechanical data are provided to quantify facet joint injury in the context of associated behavioral outcomes for long-term outcome studies. Pilot findings with this model of facet distraction point to the cervical facet capsule’s ability to produce pain symptoms. Results provide a mechanical context for facet joint injury as a mechanism of pain and suggest this in vivo model may be a useful tool for examining neck pain associated with whiplash injuries and for characterizing injury mechanisms leading to these syndromes.