Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, Michigan. Last updated April 2026.
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Expert Podiatry Right in Your Oakland County Backyard
Auburn Hills, Pontiac, and Bloomfield Hills sit in the heart of Oakland County — a region that encompasses everything from Oakland University’s campus and the Palace area to Bloomfield Hills’s prestigious communities. Balance Foot & Ankle serves all of these communities from our Bloomfield Township office, providing board-certified podiatric medicine and surgery at a location convenient for northern Oakland County residents.
If you’re dealing with foot pain, nail problems, diabetic foot concerns, or an injury that’s limiting your activity, expert care is close to home.
Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Services
We treat the full range of foot and ankle conditions for patients of all ages and activity levels throughout northern Oakland County:
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain — Our most common condition; treated with custom orthotics, stretching protocols, cortisone injection, and shockwave therapy for resistant cases
- Bunions — Conservative and surgical options including minimally invasive techniques and Lapidus fusion for hypermobile deformities
- Hammertoes and toe deformities — Office and surgical correction
- Diabetic foot care — Comprehensive annual exams, wound care, and custom footwear
- Ingrown toenails — Prompt office treatment; permanent matrixectomy for recurrent cases
- Toenail fungus — Topical, oral, and laser treatment options
- Sports injuries — Ankle sprains, stress fractures, and tendon conditions
- Custom orthotics — Digital precision fabrication for your specific biomechanics
- Ankle instability — Rehabilitation and surgical reconstruction
- Nerve conditions — Morton’s neuroma, tarsal tunnel syndrome management
Oakland University and Student-Athlete Foot Care
Auburn Hills is home to Oakland University, with thousands of student athletes competing in NCAA Division I sports. Student athletes — from cross country and track athletes running high mileage to basketball players with ankle sprain histories — develop the full spectrum of sports foot and ankle injuries. We provide sports podiatry appropriate for student athletes with season-appropriate treatment goals, working around academic and competition schedules.
Automotive Industry Workers: Foot Care for Standing-Intensive Jobs
Auburn Hills and Pontiac have significant automotive industry employment — manufacturing, engineering, and support roles that often involve extended standing and walking on hard concrete surfaces. Assembly line workers, quality control personnel, and factory workers are among the most common populations for occupational plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and ankle fatigue.
We understand the occupational demands of automotive work and provide treatment that accounts for your work requirements — including custom orthotics designed for safety boots and return-to-work planning after foot and ankle injuries.
Close to Our Bloomfield Township Office
Our Bloomfield Township location is just minutes from Auburn Hills via I-75 south. From Pontiac, Telegraph Road and Orchard Lake Road provide direct access. From Bloomfield Hills itself, we’re in the same immediate community. Parking is convenient and free — a significant advantage over major hospital-based specialist offices.
We offer morning appointment availability for patients who need to be seen before work or class, and afternoon availability for those coming from Pontiac and Auburn Hills after work.
Insurance and Scheduling
We accept most major insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Priority Health, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, HAP, Medicare, and Medicaid. Our billing team verifies your coverage before your first appointment. New patients can book online 24/7 through our website or call our office for assistance.
Auburn Hills, Pontiac, and Bloomfield Hills residents: contact Balance Foot & Ankle today for the expert foot and ankle care you deserve.
Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.
Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI
📅 Book Online
📞 (810) 206-1402
Insurance Accepted
BCBS · Medicare · Aetna · Cigna · United Healthcare · HAP · Priority Health · Humana · View All →
Howell Office
3980 E Grand River Ave, Suite 140
Howell, MI 48843
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Bloomfield Hills Office
43700 Woodward Ave, Suite 207
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
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Your Board-Certified Podiatrists
Ready to Get Back on Your Feet?
Same-week appointments available at both locations.
Book Your AppointmentMore Podiatrist-Recommended Foot Health Essentials
Hoka Clifton 10
Max-cushion everyday shoe — podiatrist favorite for walking and running.
OOFOS Recovery Slide
Impact-absorbing recovery sandal — wear after long days on your feet.
As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are based on clinical experience; prices and availability shown above update live from Amazon.
When to See a Podiatrist
If foot or ankle pain has been bothering you for more than a few weeks, home care alone may not be enough. Balance Foot & Ankle offers same-week appointments at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills clinics — no referral needed in most cases. Bring your current shoes and a short list of symptoms and we’ll build you a treatment plan in one visit.
Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402 · Book online · Offices in Howell & Bloomfield Hills
Dr. Tom’s Top 3 — The Premium Foot Pain Stack (2026)
If you only buy three things for foot pain, get these. PowerStep + CURREX orthotics correct the underlying foot mechanics, and Dr. Hoy’s pain gel delivers fast topical relief. This is the exact stack Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM gives his Michigan podiatry patients on visit one — over 10,000 patients have used this exact combination.
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified podiatrist + Amazon Associate. Picks shown are products he prescribes to patients at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists. We earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. All products independently tested + reviewed for 30+ days minimum. Last verified: April 28, 2026.
PowerStep Pinnacle MaxxDr. Tom’s #1 Brand
Dr. Tom’s most-prescribed OTC orthotic. Lateral wedge corrects overpronation that causes 90% of foot pain. Deep heel cradle stabilizes the ankle. Built by podiatrists, used by patients worldwide.
- Lateral wedge corrects pronation
- Deep heel cradle stabilizes ankle
- Dual-density EVA — comfort + support
- Trim-to-fit any shoe
- Used by 10,000+ podiatrists
- Trim-to-size required
- 5-7 day break-in for some
CURREX RunProDr. Tom’s #1 Brand
3 arch heights for custom fit (Low/Med/High). Carbon-reinforced heel + dynamic forefoot — the closest OTC orthotic to a $500 custom orthotic. Engineered in Germany.
- 3 arch heights for custom fit
- Carbon-reinforced heel cup
- Dynamic forefoot zone
- Premium German engineering
- Sport-specific support
- Pricier than PowerStep
- 7-10 day break-in
Dr. Hoy’s Natural Pain Relief GelDr. Tom’s #1 Brand
Menthol-based natural pain relief — Dr. Tom’s #1 brand for fast relief without greasy residue. Safe for diabetics + daily use. Cleaner formula than Voltaren or Biofreeze.
- Menthol-based natural formula
- No greasy residue
- Safe for diabetics
- Fast cooling relief — 5-10 minutes
- Cleaner ingredient list than Biofreeze
- Pricier than Biofreeze
- Strong menthol scent at first
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Diagnosis and Conservative Management (PubMed)
- Plantar Fasciitis (APMA)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (PubMed / AAFP)
- Heel Pain (APMA)