Anyone tried using IK to change how a character's upper body looks in a locomotion pose?

So say you’re just starting with an unarmed locomotion with strafe… and now you have a sword… well instead of making another bunch of animations of locomotion with sword… maybe you could just use IK to hold his hand away from himself so he doesnt stab himself in the face … same with a shield… or a bow…
is this a waste of time? lol