A spinal protective device comprising: a plurality of support members arranged to be abutted in series with one another in a longitudinal direction so as to extend longitudinally along a spine of a user; each support member including a supportive inner surface at a front side of the support member which spans in a lateral direction so as to be arranged to extend laterally across a back of the user; each adjacent pair of support members further comprising a respective pair of forward fulcrum contact areas where the support members abut one another for relative pivotal movement in a hyperflexion direction about a forward lateral axis; and a rear tension assembly arranged to be connected under tension between the support members at a location spaced rearwardly from the forward fulcrum contact areas so as to be arranged to limit relative movement between the support members in the hyperflexion direction; and a plurality of straps arranged to be extended about a torso of a user so as to secure the support members extending longitudinally along the spine of the user; characterized in that each adjacent pair of support member further comprises a respective pair of rearward fulcrum contact areas where the support members abut one another for relative pivotal movement in a hyperextension direction about a rearward lateral axis; and wherein the spinal protective device further comprises a front tension assembly arranged to be connected under tension between the support members at a location spaced forwardly from the rearward fulcrum contact areas so as to be arranged to limit relative movement between the support members in the hyperextension direction. a plurality of support members arranged to be abutted in series with one another in a longitudinal direction so as to extend longitudinally along a spine of a user; each support member including a supportive inner surface at a front side of the support member which spans in a lateral direction so as to be arranged to extend laterally across a back of the user; each adjacent pair of support members further comprising a respective pair of forward fulcrum contact areas where the support members abut one another for relative pivotal movement in a hyperflexion direction about a forward lateral axis; and a rear tension assembly arranged to be connected under tension between the support members at a location spaced rearwardly from the forward fulcrum contact areas so as to be arranged to limit relative movement between the support members in the hyperflexion direction; and a plurality of straps arranged to be extended about a torso of a user so as to secure the support members extending longitudinally along the spine of the user; characterized in that each adjacent pair of support member further comprises a respective pair of rearward fulcrum contact areas where the support members abut one another for relative pivotal movement in a hyperextension direction about a rearward lateral axis; and wherein the spinal protective device further comprises a front tension assembly arranged to be connected under tension between the support members at a location spaced forwardly from the rearward fulcrum contact areas so as to be arranged to limit relative movement between the support members in the hyperextension direction.