New NICE guidelines for low back pain and sciatica were published in December 2016.

The BCA welcomes these guidelines as they explicitly recognise the role of manual therapy in the treatment of low back pain and sciatica.

The guidelines state:

“Consider manual therapy (spinal manipulation, mobilisation or soft tissue techniques such as massage) for managing low back pain with or without sciatica, but only as part of a treatment package including exercise, with or without psychological therapy.”

Notably the full guideline states manipulation requires special training:
“Mobilisation and soft tissue techniques are performed by a wide variety of practitioners; whereas spinal manipulation is usually performed by chiropractors or osteopaths, and by doctors or
physiotherapists who have undergone additional training in spinal manipulation.”
The report can be found by clicking on this link.