Your Local Livingston County Foot and Ankle Specialist

Balance Foot & Ankle is Livingston County’s comprehensive podiatric practice, serving the communities of Brighton, Hartland, Hamburg Township, Pinckney, Gregory, Fowlerville, and all surrounding areas from our Howell location. Dr. Tom Bembynista, DPM, brings board-certified podiatric expertise to the heart of Livingston County, providing residents with access to the full spectrum of foot and ankle care without traveling to Detroit or Ann Arbor.

Livingston County is one of Michigan’s fastest-growing communities, and its residents deserve convenient access to high-quality specialty care. Our Howell practice is centrally located, easily accessible from M-59, I-96, and US-23, making us the natural choice for foot and ankle care throughout the county.

Comprehensive Foot Care for Brighton and Surrounding Communities

Brighton is one of the most active communities in Livingston County, with a large population of runners, cyclists, hikers, and recreational athletes who rely on their feet for the active lifestyles that the lakes, trails, and parks of the area support. We treat the full range of athletic and overuse injuries — plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, Achilles tendinopathy, ankle sprains, turf toe, and Morton’s neuromas — that sideline active Brighton area residents. Our goal is not just to relieve pain, but to identify and correct the biomechanical factors that caused the problem so patients can return to their activities and stay there.

We also serve the many Brighton and Hartland area residents managing chronic conditions that affect the feet. Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, and neuropathy all require proactive podiatric management. Our practice emphasizes comprehensive diabetic foot evaluations, vascular assessment, and protective footwear guidance as essential components of chronic disease management that prevent complications before they occur.

Custom Orthotics for Livingston County Residents

Custom foot orthotics are one of the most transformative interventions in podiatric medicine, addressing the root biomechanical causes of a wide range of conditions. At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell, we perform detailed gait analysis and lower extremity alignment assessments before fabricating orthotics to ensure each pair is precisely designed for the individual patient’s anatomy and functional needs. Whether you need orthotics for dress shoes, running shoes, work boots, or skis, we fabricate designs appropriate for your footwear and lifestyle.

Unlike generic arch supports from pharmacies or big-box athletic stores, custom orthotics are made from precise measurements of your unique foot structure and are designed to correct your specific biomechanical abnormalities. Patients who have tried off-the-shelf insoles without success are often surprised by the difference a properly fabricated custom orthotic makes.

Surgical Services Available in Livingston County

When surgical treatment is necessary, patients can remain close to home. Dr. Bembynista performs foot and ankle surgery at accredited local outpatient surgery centers serving the Livingston County area. Common procedures include bunionectomy (including minimally invasive techniques for appropriate candidates), hammertoe correction, plantar fascia release, Achilles tendon repair, ankle ligament reconstruction for chronic instability, tarsal tunnel release, neuroma excision, and toenail procedures including permanent nail removal for recurrent ingrown toenails.

Our pre-operative and post-operative care are conducted at our Howell office, minimizing travel for patients during recovery. We coordinate with local physical therapy providers and imaging centers to streamline the continuum of care from initial evaluation through post-operative rehabilitation.

New Patients Welcome in Brighton and Hartland

We proudly welcome new patients from Brighton, Hartland, Hamburg Township, and throughout Livingston County. Our team makes every effort to accommodate new patient appointments within a reasonable timeframe, and we accept most major insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Medicare, and Medicaid. Call us at (810) 206-1402 to schedule your appointment or book online through our website. We look forward to being your local foot and ankle care resource right here in Livingston County.

Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.

Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI

📅 Book Online
📞 (810) 206-1402

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

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.