British National Health Service Endorses Spinal Manipulation, Acupuncture and Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain

This British NHS policy change marks a major breakthrough, which could turn out to be comparable in impact to the landmark U.S. government report from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research AHCPR in late 1994.
Tens of millions of pounds are being wasted by the NHS on useless treatments for back pain, money that should be diverted to alternative therapies such as acupuncture and spinal manipulation, a health service watchdog says today.
From among 200 treatments and devices claimed to help a bad back, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) has passed judgement on what works and what doesn’t. X-rays, ultrasound and steroid injections are out and osteopathy, chiropractic and “needling” are in, it says.
The new guidelines mark a watershed in the treatment of the condition and for Nice itself. It is the first time that the institute has issued a positive recommendation that the NHS provide, and pay for, alternative therapies.