You might try turning on Use Limits in the Figures menu. This will limit the range of movement but should stop you getting limbs hopelessly distored and twisted. If you do get in a strange state use Edit - Restore - Element or Edit - Restore - Figure. Use Fast tracking not Full tracking (second little bubble beside the posing window) I think you'll also find it easier to use the posing dials rather than trying direct manipulation of the figure wth the tools. It's also helpful to try the pose on yourself to figure out how the limbs should move. It can be hard at first. And manipulating 3D objects in a 2D space takes a bit of effort. Stick with it. Poser is probably the most fun piece of software I've ever come across and has a wealth of "stuff" for it it on boards and communities like this one.