I've been wondering about the absence of spinal flexion in almost all the exercises and stretches I was seeing (except gbg's). I found this article which is so technical and boring that it is probably unsuitable for erBB audience, but it in large degree confirms VM's initial post-
"Damage" in the spine is poorly linked with pain. "
However there was one bit of info I found interesting-
"A documented disc herniation injury pathway exists."
The pathway had to do with the "rate' of compression. A high rate of compression led to disc herniation. In other words, a fast movement. On my road to recovery the burpee felt the scariest and most "compromising" because everything else I did- bridges, squats, superman, push ups, planks, pull ups, etc.etc.- were all slow movements or isometric. The burpee was totally dynamic.
Surfing is totally dynamic.
But I got Gbg's stretch down-
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