INTRODUCTION: From 70% to 85% of the general population suffers from back pain. Back school programs have been effective in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Taping may be useful in reducing pain and normalizing muscle function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of combining taping with back school. METHODS: Randomized controlled clinical trial. The experimental group used tape and made back school and the control group only made back school. At the beginning and the end of treatment, pain was evaluated with a visual analogue scale, the flexibility was determined with the Modified Finger Tip-to-Floor Test and functionality was calculated with the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. Depression was recorded with the Depression Beck Inventory just at the beginning. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty patients were enrolled, only 42 in the experimental group and 33 in the control group completed the treatment. Pain variation between the first and the fifth session showed no differences between groups regardless of time (p = 0.329). There were no differences between groups in functionality (p = 0.75), flexibility (p = 0.20) and depression. CONCLUSION: The combination of taping and back school compared with only back school was not more effective in reducing pain, increasing functionality and flexibility in patients with chronic low back pain.

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