fifteen consecutive recreational athletes (12 men and 3 women; mean age, 44.3 ! 7.0 years) with the diagnosis of Achilles tendinosis and a long duration of symptoms (18.3 months; range, 3 to 100) had pain during running and had tried conventional treatment (rest, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, changes of shoes or orthoses, physical therapy, and ordinary training programs) with no effect on the Achilles tendon pain. This group of patients was contacted during the years 1995 to 1996 and selected for preoperative heavy-load eccentric calf muscle training