`Blackberry thumb’ is the latest health hazard

London: Do your thumbs hurt? Well, if you’re sending lots of text messages, you may have the trendiest new malady: ‘BlackBerry thumb.’‘BlackBerry thumb’ is the name given to a repetitive strain injury caused by overusing mobile phones to send emails and texts.

The condition is so common that one law firm believes employers can expect a series of lawsuits from staff claiming compensation. “If no one knows about the risks involved, they won’t sue, but more and more people are becoming aware of health hazards in the workplace,” the Telegraph quoted Karen Jackson, a co-founder of the solicitors Roberts Jackson, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, as saying. `BlackBerry thumb’ is the overuse of a mobile phone for work purposes and we envisage potential work in this area as more people are using their handsets when they’re on the move, which is leading to repetitive strain injury. “A lot of people displaying symptoms associated with repetitive strain injury do not realise they are work-related, but the number with symptoms is increasing.” ANI