The bands you see just below basketball players’ knees are called patellar tendon straps (sometimes called patellar bands or knee straps). They’re simple, adjustable straps that wrap around the leg just beneath the kneecap and apply targeted pressure to the patellar tendon. Players wear them to reduce knee pain and protect the tendon during the repeated jumping, sprinting, and cutting that basketball demands.
What Patellar Tendon Straps Actually Do
Your patellar tendon connects your kneecap to your shinbone. Every time you jump, land, or push off to change direction, that tendon absorbs a significant amount of force. A patellar strap works by applying pressure just below the kneecap, which changes how force is distributed across the tendon. Think of it like pressing down on a guitar string at a certain point: the vibration (or in this case, strain) changes on either side of where you press.
Research published in Sports Health found that these straps meaningfully reduce strain at the exact spot on the tendon where injuries typically occur. One strap design reduced localized tendon strain by an average of 34%, while another style reduced it by about 20%. The range varied widely between individuals (anywhere from about 2% to nearly 88% reduction), which means some players get dramatically more benefit than others. But across the board, the straps consistently lowered the peak strain the tendon experienced during weight-bearing activity.
Why Basketball Players Need Them
Basketball is one of the hardest sports on the patellar tendon. The constant jumping, landing on hard courts, and explosive lateral movement create repeated micro-stress on the tendon. Over time, this wear and tear can cause tiny tears in the tendon fibers, leading to a condition called patellar tendonitis, widely known as “jumper’s knee.”
Jumper’s knee causes a dull ache at the front of the knee, right below the kneecap. The area becomes tender to even a light touch, and bending or straightening the knee gets stiff and painful. Activities like squatting, climbing stairs, or pushing off to jump make it worse. It’s one of the most common overuse injuries in basketball, which is exactly why you see so many players wearing the straps both as treatment and as a preventive measure.
Some players wear them only after developing knee pain. Others put them on proactively during heavy training periods or games to keep strain levels lower before problems start.
Do They Actually Work?
The evidence is encouraging. Beyond the strain reduction measured in lab studies, clinical results show that 77% of patients who wore patellar straps experienced enough pain relief to return to their normal activities. Players who had been dealing with knee symptoms for over a year actually saw a slightly higher benefit rate (88%) than those with newer symptoms (75%), suggesting the straps are useful even for chronic issues, not just fresh injuries.
That said, a patellar strap isn’t a cure. It manages symptoms and reduces strain while you’re wearing it, but it doesn’t heal damaged tendon tissue on its own. Most athletes use it alongside rest, strengthening exercises for the muscles around the knee, and gradual return to activity. The strap buys the tendon some breathing room so it’s not absorbing the full brunt of every jump and landing.
How to Wear One Correctly
Proper placement makes a real difference in whether the strap helps. The padded center of the strap should sit directly beneath your kneecap, right where the patellar tendon attaches to the bottom of the kneecap. Most straps have a small cushioned pad or bump that marks the pressure point, and that pad is what should be centered on the tendon.
Tighten it until you feel moderate pressure on the tendon, but don’t crank it down. The strap should feel snug and supportive, not tight enough to cut off circulation. If your lower leg starts feeling numb or tingly, it’s too tight. You should still be able to bend and straighten your knee freely while wearing it.
Other Knee Supports You’ll See on the Court
Not every knee accessory on a basketball court is a patellar strap. You’ll also see full knee sleeves, which are compression tubes that cover the entire knee joint. These provide general warmth and mild compression, which can help with swelling and joint stiffness. Some players wear padded knee braces for impact protection, particularly after ligament injuries.
The narrow band sitting just below the kneecap, though, is almost always a patellar tendon strap. It’s the most recognizable and most common knee support in basketball because it targets the specific tendon that takes the biggest beating in the sport.