Which muscle groups are primarily targeted during the footwork exercise?

The footwork exercise primarily targets the core muscles and the lower body, but the most relevant muscle groups are the glutes and calves. During footwork on the reformer, the focus is on engaging the gluteal muscles, which are important for hip extension and stability, and the calves, which play a crucial role in ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion as you push against the footbar.

While the transversus abdominis (TA) is certainly involved in stabilizing the pelvis and spine during the exercise, the main emphasis is on lower body engagement rather than the obliques or upper body muscles. Moreover, the trapezius and latissimus dorsi are primarily associated with upper body movements rather than the primary focus of the footwork exercise. Thus, understanding that footwork is more about strengthening and stabilizing the legs and glutes while maintaining core stability will clarify why that option aligns more closely with the muscle groups being targeted.