Oliverland Consulting
People • Fit • Performance
Where Footwear Fit Meets Performance
Doctoral Research
Occupational Footwear Fit & Injury Prevention
Dr. Wing Fa Chan's doctoral research examined the relationship between military boot fit, footwear provision and lower-limb injury risk among French infantry soldiers.
The research developed from a practical question: when occupational footwear is provided through a standardised system, what happens when the available footwear does not adequately correspond to the feet of the people required to wear it?
The study focused particularly on boot width and investigated how the provision of a single standard width may influence soldiers' footwear-size choices, footwear fit and the occurrence of ankle sprains and chronic lower-limb problems.
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), 2025
Fédération Européenne des Écoles (FEDE)
Research Question
How does the supply of only one standard width in military boots contribute to ankle sprains and their potential progression to chronic lower-limb problems among French infantry soldiers?
The research approached this question at the intersection of management, footwear fit, biomechanics and occupational health, examining how an organisational procurement decision may translate into behavioural and physical consequences for the people wearing the footwear.
Research Approach
Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence
The doctoral research adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative investigation.
The quantitative research examined patterns in footwear-width availability, size-selection behaviour, footwear-fit experience and reported foot and ankle problems. It also compared military and police personnel operating within an issued-footwear system with civilians who had broader access to commercial footwear choices.
The qualitative phase added context through pilot tests, field observations and expert input, helping to explore why fitting problems occurred and how knowledge, perceptions of comfort, institutional constraints and wearer behaviour interacted with footwear provision.
The purpose was not only to identify whether footwear-fit problems existed, but to better understand how organisational footwear provision could contribute to the way people selected and wore their footwear.
Research Scope
The study examined footwear fit within the context of military footwear provision, with particular attention to the interaction between available footwear options, wearer characteristics, footwear-size selection and reported foot and lower-limb problems.
A comparative perspective was also incorporated to explore how different footwear-access environments may influence footwear selection and fitting behaviour.
From Footwear Fit to a Management Question
The doctoral research approached footwear fit not only as a relationship between the foot and the footwear, but also as a management question involving the system through which footwear is selected and provided.
In an institutional environment, the footwear available to the wearer is influenced by upstream decisions concerning procurement, available sizing options and fitting practices. The research therefore considered how these organisational factors interact with wearer behaviour and footwear-fit experience.
Continuing Research
The doctoral research provides a foundation for continuing scientific and professional investigation into footwear fit, footwear provision and decision-making.
Selected findings and further analyses arising from this research are being developed for future scientific publication.
Particularly length and width, because this is central to the research question.