On a typical shoe-shopping day, you walk into a store and find the shoe that you can’t take your eyes off of.

You ask the sales associate to bring the shoe back in your size so you can test the feel.

You try it on. The new-shoe smell fills your nostrils as your toes glide inside of a cavity that feels like a perfect-fitting glove. And most importantly, it matches your outfit. You leave with a smile and a shoe that is probably all wrong for your foot.

If the sole purpose of the shoes is for style and limited action, the above transaction is kosher. If sports are involved, you may need to see professional shoe sales people who will fit you properly for the performance and not just to catch envious looks.

Stores such as Running Wild carefully watch your every barefooted-step on their hardwood floors, and they measure the width and length of your foot.

“We look at your feet and the way they pronate,” said Paul Epstein, owner of Running Wild. “We can decide how much support you need based on your biomechanics.”

Not only can they determine support needed, they also secretly let you try on a shoe that may not be the size you told them you normally wear. They know that most women are a little stubborn when it comes to shoe sizes.

Sometimes, it’s hard to face the fact that you need a larger shoe size.

“Some women come in and they say they wear a six, and we measure them and they wear a seven,” Epstein said. “They walk around in it, and they say, ‘This feels wonderful. What size is it?’ Then we tell them and they say, ‘I would have never picked that size.’”

That extra space could take the edge off during running. Epstein said more blood flows to the hands and feet while running. This can cause the feet expand a little. That extra space will certainly be to your liking.

Proper footwear can prevent injuries and discomfort from foot, leg and back pain. This way you can run comfortably and enjoy the experience, Epstein said.

“Wearing the wrong shoes can cause shin splits, all kinds of knee different knee pain, ankle pain, hip problems, back problems,” Epstein said. “Correct support in a running shoe can help all of these. You can get a shoe that feels good and still have the wrong support. You may not have the problem immediately, but eventually.”

Epstein said the salesperson should carefully watch the medial and lateral parts of your foot to choose a shoe with that caters to your podiatric needs. They also need to notice the width of the heel and the toes. Because of the lack of shoe fittings, some people have been lead to believe that they have foot, leg and/or back problems.

“Some people come in and they think they can’t run or that they have knee or leg problems,” he said. “And it’s really the shoes.”

The best time to buy shoes is at the end of the day because your feet will be swollen and the shoe will fit better. According to Foot Care Direct, there are three tests to determine if a pair of shoes is good:

1. Test the heal by squeezing it – it should be firm.

2. Test the sole by twisting it in the middle – it should not move.

3. Where the big toe joint would be, bend the sole of the shoe – if the center buckles, it is not good. Only the toe of the shoe should bend.