Objective To explore the relationship between imbalance in sagittal plane as well as structural factors and lumbar degenerative disease. Methods Patients diagnosed between July 2012 and May 2015 were divided into 4 groups according to corresponding diagnostic criteria: lumbar disc herniation group (LDH), lumbar disc protrusion group (LDP), degenerative lumbar spondylisthesis group (DLS) and nonspecific low back pain group (NLBP); 40 patients were included in each group according to their visiting time. All patients underwent X-ray, CT, and MRI. Sagittal parameters and evaluate degeneration level of structural factors were measured, and the difference among the groups were analyzed. Results There was statistical significance in differences of pelvic incidence (PI) and lumbar lordosis (LL) among 4 groups (P<0.05). Average PI was followed in descending order: DLS, LDP, NLBP, and LDH; average LL was followed in descending order: DLS, NLBP, LDP, and LDH. There was no statistical differences in sacral slope and pelvic tilting among 4 groups (P>0.05). The difference in the level of lumbar disc degeneration between NLBP group (which had slightest lumbar disc degeneration) and the other groups was significant (P<0.001) while no statistical differences in level and rate of lumbar disc degeneration among the other three groups was found (P>0.05). As to the level of lumbar zygapophyseal joint degeneration, there was statistical differences between NLBP group (which had the lowest level of lumbar zygapophyseal joint degeneration) and the other groups (P<0.001) while no statistical differences in the grade of lumbar zygapophyseal joint degeneration among the other three groups (P>0.05). There was statistical differences in the rate of lumbar zygapophyseal joint degeneration between LDH and DLS group (χ2=11.429,P=0.001). Conclusions Vertical lunbar spine is combined with LDH of which the level of lumbar zygapophyseal joint degeneration is minimized, while crooked lunbar spine is combined with DLS of which the level of lumbar zygapophyseal joint degeneration is maximization. NLBP has the lowest level of degeneration of lumbar disc and lumbar zygapophyseal joint degeneration.