Do Patellar Tendon Straps Work? What the Research Says

Patellar tendon straps (also called patella straps, patella bands or infrapatellar straps) are one of the most common supports for jumper's knee. But do they actually work? Here is what the research says, in plain English.

What a patella strap is supposed to do

A strap sits on the patellar tendon, just below the kneecap. The idea is that firm, focused pressure changes how force travels through the tendon at the spot where jumper's knee usually hurts, and may also change how the knee senses that area. The goal is less pain during activity, not a cure.

Study 1: lower predicted strain at the pain spot

Researchers took knee X-rays of 20 adult men with and without two different infrapatellar straps, then fed the measurements into a computer model of a jump landing. In most participants the straps lowered the strain predicted at the site where jumper's knee typically develops. The straps seemed to work by changing the angle between the kneecap and the tendon and the tendon's effective length.

What it means: there is a plausible mechanical reason a strap could make loading less painful. What it doesn't mean: this was a model in healthy men, not a treatment trial in patients.

Study 2: less pain while jumping, same jump height

In 16 young male basketball and volleyball players with patellar tendinopathy, wearing an infrapatellar strap reduced pain in three of four jump tests compared with no strap. Jump performance did not change.

What it means: a strap may make training and playing more comfortable without slowing you down. What it doesn't mean: it was a small, short-term study, so it cannot tell us about long-term healing.

So, do patella straps work?

For many people with pain right below the kneecap, a strap is a cheap, low-risk way to make activity more comfortable, and the early research supports that. It is best treated as one tool in the plan:

• Use it during the activities that hurt: running, jumping, court sports, squats, stairs.
• Keep strengthening: progressive exercise is still the main treatment for patellar tendinopathy. Start with our free Knee Reset routine.
• Wear it in the right place: placement matters more than tightness. See how to wear a patellar tendon strap.

Who may benefit less

• People whose pain is around or behind the kneecap rather than just below it (often patellofemoral pain, or runner's knee).
• Knees that are swollen, unstable or recently injured. These need a proper assessment.

What to look for in a strap

• A contoured pad that targets the tendon, not a flat band.
• Easy one-handed adjustment so you can get the pressure right.
• A low profile that stays put under clothes and during movement.
• A guarantee, so you can see whether it helps you.

Our 3D silicone patellar tendon strap was designed around those points, comes in pairs and is covered by a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Sources

• Lavagnino M, Arnoczky SP, Dodds J, Elvin N. Infrapatellar straps decrease patellar tendon strain at the site of the jumper's knee lesion. Sports Health, 2011.
• Dar G, Mei-Dan E. Immediate effect of infrapatellar strap on pain and jump height in patellar tendinopathy among young athletes. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 2019.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If your knee is swollen, unstable, painful at rest or after an injury, or not improving, see a doctor or physical therapist.