Accumulated tension produces muscular soreness and sets the stage for muscle spasms. Unresolved, past injuries predispose a person to further injury. The fact that people guard themselves after injury demonstrates that they instinctually recognize that they are in jeopardy of further injury. To improve awareness of body position and movement has been the typical biomechanical approach of ergonomic solutions. However, habitual ways of moving and working work against new ways of moving and working.
People tend to return, unconsciously, to old ways of working.
Typical instructions in booklets on good posture and work habits are therefore inadequate. Too often, people do not correct situations until they have become critical. Often, people do not realize that there is a problem until it has become critical. With repetitive use injuries and lifting injuries, the problem has developed for a very long time before it incapacitates the individual and drops them into a medical situation. Injuries in themselves may leave residual muscular tensions that can lead to further injury.