What is the biomechanical significance of Lumbo-sacral angle?

The entirety of the spine from the neck down through the lowest lumbar vertebra, which is called
L-5, rests onto the top of the sacrum. This bottom joint, called L5 - S1, is also known as
the Lumbo-sacral joint..

The sacrum is a triangular bone that is wedged in between the two hip bones in back to help
stabilize the column, and to ease the load on spine as it transfers down to lower body. It achieves
these feats by distributing the weight of spine throughout the pelvis and down into lower
extremity. Lumbo-sacral spine is comprised of the five lumbar segments, including that lowest
L5 - S1 joint. A segment is basically an inter-vertebral joint which consists of an upper spinal
bone and a lower spinal bone with a disc in between.

The Lumbo-sacral Angle

For the Lumbo-sacral angle, because the whole spine sits on top of that lowest sacrum bone, the
angle of the top of the sacrum determines the degree of each of the spinal curves located above
it. This includes the lumbar, thoracic and cervical curves.

The weight of the upper body transfers from the spine through the L5 vertebra to the sacrum. The
top of the sacrum bone is called the sacral base and it is not horizontal. Rather, it tilts. The degree
of sacral base tilts vary in individuals; they can be, relatively speaking, steep or flat, or places in
between. 

As the base of support for the spine, then, this sacral angle determines, at least in part, the degree
of curve in the lumbar, thoracic and cervical areas. In other words, starting at the foundation,
which, again is the top of the sacrum, and going up the spine, one angle influences another. 

The Lumbo-sacral Angle and Spondylolisthesis

One common spinal problem that occurs at the L5-sacrum joint is called spondylolisthesis.
Spondylolisthesis is a forward slippage of the top bone, the L5, relative to the bottom bone, the
sacrum. This condition affects young and old alike, though in different forms. 

In children and adolescents, it tends to start as injury, like a hairline fracture, to a small area at
the back of the spine known as the pars inter-articularis. Young athletes are most at risk,
especially when their sports require repetitive forward and back spinal movements. Examples
include cheerleaders and football players. Over time, the pars injury can develop
into spondylolysis and finally spondylolisthesis

In older people, spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis tend to be caused by degenerative changes

in the spine. 
Each region of the spine has a directional curve associated with it. The normal curve of the
lumbar spine is a lordosis. This is a forward curve that helps keep the discs and muscles in
proper alignment. The lumbar spine rests upon the sacrum. The place where they meet is called
the Lumbo, or L5-S1.

The Lumbo-sacral angle (LSA), one of the clinically important radiographic angles related to this
curve, and frequently measured by the Ferguson's technique, which is important in the
management of patients with low back disorders because it may be affected by disorders such as
inflammation, degeneration etc.