Which term describes injuries resulting from repetitive mental or physical trauma over time that cause disability or require medical treatment?

• A. Hernia
• B. Heart Trouble
• C. Pneumonia
• D. Cumulative Trauma

Answer: (D)

Injuries that develop from repeated mental or physical stress accumulating over time until they cause disability or require medical treatment are described as cumulative trauma. This concept captures how small, ongoing stresses build up rather than a single event causing the problem. For example, repetitive wrist movements can lead to issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, or repeated overhead work can cause tendinitis. The other options describe conditions that aren’t caused by cumulative stress: a hernia is a tissue protrusion, heart trouble refers to cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia is a lung infection. So the term that best fits injuries from repetitive trauma over time is cumulative trauma.