It's been shown that a number of exercises can be done to help rehabilitate an Achilles tendon injury. These are done mainly to ensure the growth of the healed tissue is laid down in the proper way at the cellular level rather than a random clump of mess.

I'll find links to these to post them later. I did them while I was suffering from an Achilles tendon injury.

What sort of tendon issues did you have?

This was published in NY Times about 2 months ago.

It's OK to Run Hurt[/URL" target="_blank">

I would add two things. One, exercise also improves blood flow to the injured area, which aids in healing. Two, you could also try pool running if the bike riding gets too repetitive.

------------------
My Profile[/URL" target="_blank">
My Blog[/URL" target="_blank">

http://This message has been edited by wayfool (edited Mar-29-2007).

Wow, this whole conversation sounds like you guys are talking about me! Four weeks ago, in the middle of a race, I felt a snap in my right calf. I could hardly walk and felt excruciating pain. I was diagnosed with a ruptured plantaris tendon, which is sort of meshed between the soleus and gastro. muscles. The whole area was very tender and sore for a couple of weeks, but I was told to "keep it moving." My orthop. said I could run as long as I could tolerate the pain. I also went in for ultrasound. There was still some minor soreness last week as I was preparing for a very hilly race in S.C. I called my doctor and he assured me that I could go for it. So I did. It was cold the a.m. of the race, and my calf was very stiff and sore. Worried that I could do some damage, I decided to walk the whole thing. Well, as soon as they said "Go," I changed my mind and ran. Very sore. There was a hill at the immediate start of the course. Then another and another and another. Here's the unbelievably amazing thing to me... by mile 2, I felt nothing. By the end of that run, my leg felt better than it has since the injury. And, I've been running without pain ever since. It's like those hills completely cured me! It appears that the "keep it moving" advice is key with this kind of injury.

Interesting. I have a bit of difficulty with the peroneal tendons (outside of the ankle) at the moment, and after 3.5 wks rest am trying a gradual , slow return to running. No pain whilst running - stiff for a day or so afterwards. If sharp pain returns then I'll rest it again.

I've done something similar with shin splints before, plus strengthening exercises, and it eventually just went away entirely (I guess through a build-up of strength).

Presumably, you should avoid racing or track / speed sessions whilst everything's not perfect?