Nontraumatic Acute Hyperextension Myelopathy Associated With Weightlifting

We describe the clinical course of a 56-yr-old woman without a significant medical history presenting with nontraumatic paraplegia found to have an infarction of the conus medullaris after intensive lumbar hyperextension exercises. This condition, known as surfer's myelopathy, has been described in multiple case reports that attributed a similar mechanism and presentation. We present a case of surfer's myelopathy associated with weightlifting, which has not been previously reported. We conclude that this diagnosis should be considered in patients who present after spine hyperextension activity with nontraumatic paraplegia. Furthermore, we support the nomenclature change to "acute hyperextension myelopathy," better reflecting the underlying pathophysiology.