The Blackberry mobile has become a technology icon in recent times as a tool that delivers e-mail automatically to executives on the move. For many it has become a way of life and sales have boomed of late with endorsement from a variety of celebrities.

However, a professor of orthopedic surgery at Imperial College London has sounded a note of caution that prolonged use of these gadgets could be putting added strain on the thumbs. His concerns are also felt by researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, USA.

Although these concerns are merely theoretical at the moment it is possible that problems such as repetitive strain injury, arthritis or tendon damage may take some time to develop in users.

These kinds of injuries however, are not new. The 1980's saw the rise of the video game, and was referred to as Nintendo thumb or nintendonitis!

With this in mind Leathes Prior solicitors is advising that employers bear this in mind and make staff aware of the dangers to reduce the likelihood of any problems occurring. In particular advising them to limit the lengths of emails from these devices.

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