Which of the following best describes a *cumulative injury*?

A cumulative injury refers to damage that occurs over time as a result of repetitive movements or sustained activities that strain specific body parts. This type of injury often develops gradually and may not manifest significant symptoms until the repetitions cause the tissues to break down or the body can no longer compensate for the continuous stress.

In contrast to something that occurs from a single event, a cumulative injury builds up as microtraumas accumulate rather than resulting from a specific, identifiable incident. It is often difficult to pinpoint a single moment when the injury began, as the deterioration occurs progressively.

While medication reactions and easily identifiable injuries are also relevant topics in medical evaluations, they do not adequately capture the essence of cumulative injuries, which are primarily defined by their development over time due to ongoing stress or repetitive motion. Therefore, the characteristic of a cumulative injury best aligns with the definition that describes an injury that worsens over time due to repetitive trauma.