In a backward sway, which muscle groups comprise the ankle strategy?

• A. Gastrocs, Hamstrings, Paraspinals
• B. Anterior Tibialis, Quadriceps, Abs
• C. Erector Spinae, Glutes, Abdominals
• D. Soleus, Gastrocnemius, Hamstrings

Answer: (B)

When sway is backward, the ankle strategy uses a distal-to-proximal response around the ankle to pull the body back upright. The first actor is the dorsiflexor group, specifically the anterior tibialis, which dorsiflexes the ankle to shift the body forward about the ankle joint. This helps move the center of mass back over the feet. As the corrective demand continues, the knee extensors (quadriceps) and the abdominal muscles brace and stiffen the body to maintain alignment and prevent additional forward or backward tipping. This combination—anterior tibialis with proximal stabilizers like the quadriceps and abs—fits the ankle strategy for a backward perturbation. The other options rely more on plantarflexors or on trunk/hip muscles rather than the ankle-centric sequence, so they don’t describe the ankle strategy in this scenario.