Tendinitis and Tenosynovitis

The tendon is the rope that connects muscle to bone. Some tendons are very short and others are long and cross over joints (such as the ones that bend and straighten the fingers). These tendons may pass underneath ligaments which hold the tendon close to the bone. When the muscle belly contracts during movement, it pulls on the rope (tendon) that is attached to the bone causing movement. The ligamentous bridges prevent the tendon from “popping out”, or bow-stringing, during movement. This makes movement more efficient. Where the tendon needs to pass around a bony bend, the tendon may be covered by a sheath which provides lubrication so that the tendon passes smoothly through these challenging areas. (more…)