A stabilization system for controlling relative motion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the stabilization system comprising: a first stabilizer comprising: a resilient member configured to be coupled to extend along a first direction to transmit tension and compression between the first and second vertebrae; a first member extending along the first direction to keep the resilient member substantially straight, and a second member that slidably engages the first member such that the first and second members cooperate to keep the resilient member substantially straight, wherein the second member telescopically engages the first member, which further comprises a locking component positionable to lock the first stabilizer to substantially prevent extension of the second vertebra with respect to the first vertebra, wherein the locking component is configured to cooperate with the first stabilizer to substantially prevent all relative motion of the first and second vertebrae, wherein the first and second members are translatable toward and away from each other to a plurality of different positions prior to locking the first stabilizer, wherein translation of the first stabilizer ends permits stabilized motion of the first and second vertebrae with respect to each other prior to locking of the first stabilizer, characterized in that the locking component is effective to lock the first and second members relative to each other at a first of the plurality of positions and a second of the plurality of positions, at the election of a user. a first stabilizer comprising: a resilient member configured to be coupled to extend along a first direction to transmit tension and compression between the first and second vertebrae; a first member extending along the first direction to keep the resilient member substantially straight, and a second member that slidably engages the first member such that the first and second members cooperate to keep the resilient member substantially straight, wherein the second member telescopically engages the first member, which further comprises a locking component positionable to lock the first stabilizer to substantially prevent extension of the second vertebra with respect to the first vertebra, wherein the locking component is configured to cooperate with the first stabilizer to substantially prevent all relative motion of the first and second vertebrae, wherein the first and second members are translatable toward and away from each other to a plurality of different positions prior to locking the first stabilizer, wherein translation of the first stabilizer ends permits stabilized motion of the first and second vertebrae with respect to each other prior to locking of the first stabilizer, characterized in that the locking component is effective to lock the first and second members relative to each other at a first of the plurality of positions and a second of the plurality of positions, at the election of a user. a resilient member configured to be coupled to extend along a first direction to transmit tension and compression between the first and second vertebrae; a first member extending along the first direction to keep the resilient member substantially straight, and a second member that slidably engages the first member such that the first and second members cooperate to keep the resilient member substantially straight, wherein the second member telescopically engages the first member, which further comprises a locking component positionable to lock the first stabilizer to substantially prevent extension of the second vertebra with respect to the first vertebra, wherein the locking component is configured to cooperate with the first stabilizer to substantially prevent all relative motion of the first and second vertebrae, wherein the first and second members are translatable toward and away from each other to a plurality of different positions prior to locking the first stabilizer, wherein translation of the first stabilizer ends permits stabilized motion of the first and second vertebrae with respect to each other prior to locking of the first stabilizer, characterized in that the locking component is effective to lock the first and second members relative to each other at a first of the plurality of positions and a second of the plurality of positions, at the election of a user.