What are repetitive stress triggers?

Repetitive stress triggers are like when you do the same action over and over again until something gets tired or sore.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite toy, maybe a squeaky ball that you press to make it go squeak! You press it 10 times, then 20 times, then 50 times. At first, it's fun. But after a while, your hand might start to feel tired or even hurt. That’s because repetitive stress triggers are like that toy, they happen when you keep doing the same movement again and again.

When something gets tired from being used too much, it can send out a signal: “Hey, I need a break!” This is why your hand might feel sore after playing with the ball for so long. Your muscles or even your joints can feel like that toy, happy at first, but then needing rest.

Think about typing on a keyboard all day, or brushing your teeth really hard every morning. Those are real-life repetitive stress triggers too! They might not make you squeak, but they can make you feel tired or sore.