Methods and systems for increasing the bending stiffness of a spinal segment with elongation limit

A compliance member for elastically constraining spinous processes, said compliance member comprising:

• a body having a superior attachment element and an inferior attachment, said body defining a tension spring capable of elastic elongation between said attachment elements, wherein said attachment elements allow the compliance member to be directly or indirectly attached between superior and inferior spinous processes;
• an elongation limit coupled between the superior attachment element and the inferior attachment element to prevent elongation of the tension spring beyond a maximum elongation length.