From what my sport doctor and physio explained, during a hyperextension movement, when you&#x27;ve doubled over and your head is pointing at the ground, you&#x27;re opening the spine up, fluid moving between discs and cartilage, etc. In a full hyperextension, you&#x27;re compressing in the opposite flexed direction. If there&#x27;s misalignment anywhere in your spine, you might be increasing your risk of exacerbating the issue.<p>The trouble with bro science is that those lifters may never have actually had the problem you&#x27;re experiencing, and if they had, may not have had it in the same way that you have.<p>Core strengthening exercises are good in general as stronger&#x2F;thicker muscle better protects the connective tissue providing backup support for your joints. It&#x27;s a reason some athletes can tear ACLs and such and walk around normally while a normal person might end up debilitated.<p>Please get a referral from a sports medicine specialist for a physio. Even if you go only once, have someone give you strategies for strengthening and protecting your back the safe way.