During spinal extension, motion is limited by

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Facet joints limit spinal extension by bringing the articulating surfaces of adjacent vertebrae into contact as you bend backward. This contact, along with tight joint capsules, creates a physical stop that prevents further backward movement and provides posterior stability during extension. While the anterior longitudinal ligament does resist hyperextension along the front of the spine, the immediate, primary constraint in extension comes from the facet joint contact. The intervertebral discs and ligamentum flavum contribute to spinal mechanics in other ways (discs more with compression and load distribution; flavum more involved with flexion), but they are not the main limiting factor for extension.