Is walking on a steep incline a legit sub for running when injured?

Have begun to show signs of patella tendon pain again as I ramp up run training. With a race a few weeks away it got me wondering whether walking on a step inclined treadmill to get the HR up there might be an acceptable substitute for run training?

I figured that it could also improve my leg strength and is much less impact though likely to place greater stress on the calves/achilles etc.

Is it worth considering or just total rest if in doubt on certain days?

I have no idea if it is but just wanted to say that it has frequently been prescribed to me to do as part fo my recovery from an injury and re-introduction to running and always to be done only if there is no pain. I have to believe it is better than nothing - - and it is pretty easy to get your HR up there if you have the treadmill steep enough and really focus on what your core is doing (and don’t hang on to the handrails.)

it has to do something for you. I’ve done it…if you throw the incline way up and try to “walk” at 4mph on a treadmilll it gets pretty difficult. (you’d have to read “the long walk” by stephen king to understand why I chose 4mph).

water running works pretty well too…but it’s INCREDIBLY boring.