When one thinks of the dangers of surfing, things like sharks, sharp coral reefs, high waves and strong currents come to mind. But who knew that surfing on even a calm day on a harmless beach could be dangerous? A recent newspaper article about a young man who became paralyzed after taking his first surf lesson on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, caught my attention. Even though only a small number of beginning surfers are afflicted by this largely unknown and completely preventable condition called surfer’s myelopathy, it is scary and devastating for those who suffer from it. Surfer’s myelopathy is a nontraumatic spine injury. It usually affects beginning surfers who arch their back too often or too... [Read more]