Your recovery time will be determined by the severity of your tendonitis and how well it is treated. If you can avoid putting stress on the injured foot or hand and avoid overusing those tendons for a few days, you should be ready to begin stretching and strengthening exercises within a week. However, if the condition is not treated properly or isn't given time to heal, it may take months before you are back at full strength. The length of time you should rest before resuming activity varies depending on the severity of your tendonitis. If the injury is mild, you should be able to resume most activities after one or two days of rest. As the severity of the injury increases, so does the amount of time you need to rest before returning to activity. In general, if activity causes pain, you should rest longer until the pain subsides. Stretching and strengthening exercises are important in order to prevent future injuries. Follow any prescribed treatment plan carefully and seek medical advice from a podiatrist if you have any concerns about your condition.