## 2 Methods
### Eligibility Criteria  
Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) criteria. **Population**: The population criteria define the specific groups of individuals whose data or characteristics were analyzed in the included studies. For this review, we focused on studies involving participants who engage in physical activities, ranging from athletes to non-athletes, across different age groups and health conditions. 1. **Athletes**: Studies involving professional or amateur athletes who regularly engage in sports or physical activities where footwear plays a critical role in performance and injury prevention. This subgroup is particularly relevant for examining the biomechanical effects of lacing on factors such as pressure distribution, Achilles tendon stress, and overall foot stability. 2. **Non-athletes**: Individuals who do not participate in professional sports but engage in everyday physical activities like walking, jogging, or recreational exercise. Nonathletes are essential in understanding how lacing techniques affect foot biomechanics in less intense but more varied activities, providing insights into daily footwear use. 3. **Individuals with specific foot conditions**: Studies that involve participants with pre-existing foot health issues, such as plantar fascitis, diabetic foot, or Achilles tontinopathy. This population is crucial in assessing how different lacing techniques can alleviate or exacerbate specific biomechanical stresses, contributing to injury prevention or management. **Concept**: The concept criteria focus on the specific phenomena or aspects of lacing techniques that were explored within the studies, particularly how various lacing techniques influence foot biomechanics, injury prevention, and perceived comfort. 1. **Lacing Techniques**: Different methods of tying shoelaces, including, but not limited to, the following: \(\bigcirc\) **Traditional criss-cross lacing**: The most common lacing pattern, which may influence general foot stability and the distribution of pressure across the foot. \(\bigcirc\) **High or low lacing**: Patterns where more or fewer eyelets are used, affecting how the shoe fits around the foot and ankle. \(\bigcirc\) **Tight vs. loose lacing**: Variations in the tightness of laces, which can significantly alter both comfort and pressure distribution. \(\bigcirc\) **Lock-lacing techniques**: Specialized methods designed to improve heel lock and reduce foot slippage within the shoe, which may enhance stability and prevent friction-related injuries. 2. **Biomechanical Effects**: The focus of the concept is to assess how these lacing techniques influence specific biomechanical parameters, such as the following: \(\bigcirc\) **Planar pressure distribution**: The manner in which weight is distributed across different areas of the foot during movement. \(\bigcirc\) **Achilles tendon tension**: The strain placed on the Achilles tendon during activities, particularly in sports or high-impact movement. \(\bigcirc\) **Foot stability and motion control**: How well the foot is secured within the shoe, reducing unnecessary movement that could lead to injuries. 3. **Injury Prevention and Comfort**: The concept also includes examining how lacing techniques can prevent common foot-related injuries, such as stress fractures or tendinitis, while simultaneously enhancing user comfort during various physical activities. **Context**: The context criteria outline the settings or conditions in which the studies were conducted, offering insights into the practical application of the findings across different environments. 1. **Clinical Settings**: Studies conducted in clinical environments, such as rehabilitation centers or podiatry clinics, often involving patients with specific foot health conditions. These studies are essential in assessing how lacing techniques can be used therapeutically to improve foot health outcomes. 2.