A small pad in the right place changes the whole step

The part of the knee that complains

Just below the kneecap sits the patellar tendon, the strap of tissue that connects the kneecap to the shin. Every stair, every downhill and every push out of a chair loads it. When it is irritated, it tends to ache in one predictable spot: the soft hollow right under the kneecap.

What the pad does

The June Strap places a slim, cushioned silicone pad in that hollow and holds it there with gentle pressure. Pressure on the tendon in this spot is a long-established way to change how force travels through it while you move. People often describe the result as the knee feeling steadier and the sharp spot feeling quieter, especially on the way down stairs and hills.

The pad is about 17 cm wide and 5 cm tall, a few millimeters thick. It is meant to be felt as support, not squeeze.

Why it stays put

Putting it on

1. Sit with the knee slightly bent. The tendon relaxes and the hollow below the kneecap is easy to find.
2. Rest the pad in that hollow. Directly under the kneecap, centered on the tendon. Not on the shin, not on the kneecap itself.
3. Pull the strap through the ring until snug, not tight. Press the tail down. Stand up, take the stairs, and forget it is on.

If your foot tingles or the skin below the strap goes pale, it is too tight. Loosen a notch. The fit guide has photos of each step.

What it is not

It is a support strap, not a cure and not a brace. It will not stabilise a ligament injury, and it does not treat swelling from a fall or pain deep inside the joint. For those, or for any knee pain that has lasted more than a few weeks, see a physiotherapist or your doctor. Read more on the science page.