Lumbarisation and sacralisation may or may not cause back pain and some patients do not have any symptoms at all. Bertolotti’s syndrome is lumbarisation and sacralisation that results in a sciatic type of pain in the lower back. Other symptoms of lumbarisation and sacralisation include:

• Lower back pain along with buttock pain
• Limited ipsilateral (same side of the body) flexion
• Reduced mobility
• Muscle spasms
• Decreased coordination and flexibility
• Sciatic or radicular pain patterns
• Chronic back pain in adolescents

People with lumbarisation or sacralisation are more likely to experience back pain due to:

• Poor sitting posture that places stress on the affected joints
• Twisting movements that can irritate nerve roots
• Lifting heavy loads incorrectly
• Sitting for prolonged periods
• Low levels of physical activity