An apparatus for reducing knee pain and/or increasing athletic performance, comprising: a compressive sleeve, a compressive wrap, or a compressive pair of shorts configured to fit over a thigh of at least one leg； an elastic strap configured to fit tightly and circumferentially, over and around the compressive sleeve, the compressive wrap, or the compressive pair of shorts, above a knee joint at a mid-portion of the thigh； a generally concave-shaped hard actuator having a concave side, wherein the elastic strap is configured to fit over the hard actuator and thereby press the concave side of the concave hard actuator against a position on an anterior side of the mid-portion of the thigh； wherein application of the apparatus reduces knee pain and/or increases athletic performance. A method of reducing knee pain and/or increasing athletic performance is also disclosed.
