Introduction
This page provides content for clinicians regarding the assessment and management of lower back pain
Practice Guidelines
NICE Guidelines
Below is a link to the NICE Guideline (NG59) – Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management.
National Back & Radicular Pain Pathway
Below is the a link to the nationally recommended pathway for the identification, assessment and treatment of back and radicular pain.
For ease the pathway flowcharts are on Pages 15 & 16 (LINK HERE)

External Links
NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries
The following link contains the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries in relation to Back Pain – Low (without radiculopathy)
Back Pain CKS (No Sciatica) Link
The following link contains the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries in realtion to Sciatica (lumbar radiculopathy)
STarT Back Tool
The Keele STarT Back Tool is a screening tool to help screen/risk stratify patients presenting with low back pain. It can be accessed, alongside other STaRT Back resoures from the following link.