When Soil at the exterior of the foundation gets saturated, the clay in the soil expands and pushes inward on the foundation wall.  The wall can move inward (lateral movement), and or crack.  

The soil anchor is a plate in the exterior yard, connecting to a plate on the interior wall, connected with a steel rod.  When tightened, the two plates move towards each other, holding the wall back from moving inward.

Carbon Fiber can also be used as an I-beam on the interior wall, if the wall is moved less than one inch.

More than one inch movment requires an I-beam (wall brace) or soil anchor.

The soil anchor can also be used after it’s installed, to move the wall back to plumb.