Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product information only, not medical advice. It does not diagnose, treat or recommend a product for any individual; questions about a knee problem belong with a licensed clinician.
Short answer
A patella strap is a band worn around the knee, below the kneecap, over the patellar tendon. Makers sell it for patellar tendon pain and related knee complaints. A peer-reviewed study tested an infrapatellar strap on 16 young athletes with patellar tendinopathy: pain during jumping tests was lower with the strap, and jump performance did not change.
Definition and scope
“Patella” is the kneecap. A patella strap, also sold as an infrapatellar or patellar tendon strap, is a wearable knee support that sits below the kneecap rather than covering the whole joint. In the study cited below, the strap was applied beneath the patella, over the patellar tendon.
The condition most closely tied to the strap in the published research is patellar tendinopathy, also called jumper’s knee. This page covers what the product is and how a published study and a manufacturer describe it. It does not cover fitting steps for a person, diagnosis, or treatment.
How it is used in practice
What the study measured
Dar and Mei-Dan (Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 2019;43(1):21-27) recruited 16 male basketball and volleyball athletes aged 12 to 18 who had been diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy. Each athlete performed four jumping tests (squat jump, drop jump, single-leg jump and a 30-second jumps test) with and without the strap. Pain was scored on a visual analog scale and jump performance was measured with an optical system.
Pain was lower with the strap in the drop test, single-leg jump test and 30-second jumps test (p < 0.05). Jumping performance was not significantly different with or without the strap. The authors concluded the strap reduced local pain without altering jumping performance.
What a manufacturer says
The Mueller Sports Medicine product page for its Advanced Patella Strap states that the strap “helps maintain kneecap alignment while walking, running, jumping, or climbing” and that “The gentle compression helps relieve pain by absorbing high-impact shock.” It describes an integrated bi-lateral strap that connects to a buttress, says tension can be adjusted, says the product can also be worn above the knee for IT band use, and includes a sizing chart headed “Measure Around Knee.” These are the manufacturer’s own marketing statements, not independent findings.
Evidence compared with marketing
The two sources answer different questions, and laying them side by side shows where the wider claims go beyond the study.
| Topic | Peer-reviewed study (Dar and Mei-Dan, 2019) | Manufacturer page (Mueller) |
|---|---|---|
| Condition addressed | Patellar tendinopathy only | Patellar tendonitis, runner’s knee, patella alignment issues, chondromalacia, arthritis, Osgood-Schlatter disease and general knee pain |
| Who was studied | 16 male athletes aged 12-18 | Not stated on the page |
| Outcome reported | Lower pain in three jumping tests; no significant change in jump performance | Pain relief and kneecap alignment described in general terms |
| Where it sits | Beneath the patella, over the patellar tendon | Around the knee; optionally above the knee for IT band |
| Warnings listed | Not applicable | None listed on the product page |
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
For staff who stock or catalogue supports, the practical point is the difference between a study of one strap design in one small group and a product page listing many indications. The study measured an immediate effect only, with each athlete serving as their own comparison and no separate control group. A product page that lists arthritis or chondromalacia is not backed by this study for those conditions.
A label-reading checklist drawn from the table: the indications the maker states; the sizing measurement the maker asks for; whether tension is adjustable; and whether warnings appear on the page or the label. Where a maker publishes instructions for use, those govern. For related stocking context, see the sports medicine clinic supply checklist, the physical therapy clinic supply checklist and the youth sports team medical kit checklist.
Common misunderstandings
- A strap is not a full knee brace. The study strap sat beneath the patella over the tendon; this page makes no claim about hinged braces or sleeves.
- “Relieves pain” is not “treats the condition.” The study reported pain during jumping with the strap on, not a change in the underlying tendon.
- One study does not cover every knee complaint. Its participants were adolescent male athletes with patellar tendinopathy.
- It is not an elastic bandage. For that product, see what is an elastic bandage. For the wider specialty, see what is orthopedics.
FAQ
Does a patella strap reduce pain?
In a 2019 study, 16 young athletes with patellar tendinopathy reported lower pain during three jumping tests while wearing an infrapatellar strap, with no significant change in jump performance. The effect measured was immediate, and the study had no separate control group.
Where is a patella strap worn?
In the study, beneath the patella, over the patellar tendon. Mueller states its strap can also be worn above the knee for IT band use. Follow the instructions that come with a specific product.
What is a patella strap used for?
Makers market it for patellar tendon pain and related knee complaints. The only study cited on this page involved athletes with patellar tendinopathy. This is general product information, not advice for any individual.
Is a patella strap the same as a knee brace?
The strap in the study sat beneath the patella over the patellar tendon. This page makes no claim about hinged braces or sleeves, which are different products.
Sources
- Dar G, Mei-Dan E. Immediate effect of infrapatellar strap on pain and jump height in patellar tendinopathy among young athletes. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2019;43(1):21-27. PubMed PMID 30101673, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30101673. Checked 2026-10-30.
- Mueller Sports Medicine, Advanced Patella Strap product page, muellersportsmed.com/advanced-patella-strap.html. Checked 2026-10-30.
