Another chronic overuse tendon problem is tenosynovitis, which is an inflammation and/or irritation between a tendon and its surrounding synovial sheath. This condition affects only those tendons enclosed within a synovial sheath. The synovial sheath is also called the epitenon. The synovial sheath surrounds tendons in the distal extremities and a few other locations, such as the biceps brachii long head tendon as it travels through the bicipital groove. The sheath reduces friction between the tendon and the retinaculum (or, infrequently, a ligament) that binds the tendon close to the joint. The tendon must be able to glide freely within the sheath.
Chronic overloading or excess friction leads to adhesion between the tendon and its sheath. The adhesions cause a roughening of the surface between the tendon and its sheath, and a subsequent inflammatory reaction results. The rough tendon surface routinely produces crepitus (grating sensations) when the muscle-tendon unit and affected joint are moved through their range of motion.
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