What can occur when a person changes how they hold themselves after an injury?

When a person changes how they hold themselves after an injury, it often leads to limping and guarding behaviors. These compensatory postures or movements arise as the body instinctively tries to protect the injured area from further harm. For instance, if someone injures their ankle, they may subconsciously adjust their gait to avoid putting weight on that foot, resulting in a limp. Guarding behaviors, such as bracing or tensing muscles around an injury, may also occur as a protective response, further affecting the overall movement pattern and posture.

The other choices, while they represent desirable outcomes, do not typically occur as immediate reactions to changed postural habits following an injury. Improved flexibility and increased mobility are generally influenced by rehabilitation and physical therapy, not simply by altering posture. Reduced pain perception does not necessarily follow a change in posture either, as altered movement patterns can sometimes lead to increased discomfort rather than alleviation, especially if they create new stress on other parts of the body.