Knee strap helps take the stress and therefore pain off of the patellar tendon at the bottom of the knee. Straps placed above the knee can reduce stress where the IT band becomes tight and creates friction around the knee. Straps can also have a proprioceptive effect on the knee joint. A good knee pad can help minimize the impact on your knee, preventing patellar fracture. A kneepad will also protect you from being penetrated by sharp objects like nails. Some knee pads are also designed to minimize the shock of a hard ground floor, which can seriously damage your knees over time.