Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, Michigan. Last updated April 2026.
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Podiatric Care for East Lansing and Meridian Township
Patients from East Lansing, Okemos, Meridian Township, and the greater Capital Area region receive comprehensive podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our board-certified podiatric physicians bring expertise, advanced diagnostics, and individualized treatment to a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, serving patients throughout south-central and southeastern Michigan.
East Lansing and Meridian Township form the educational and residential core of the greater Lansing area, with Michigan State University at their center. This creates a particularly active and health-conscious patient population — from student athletes and MSU faculty to established families and retirees in Okemos’ residential communities. Our practice serves each segment of this diverse community with appropriate and expert care.
What We Treat
Our East Lansing and Okemos patients present with the full range of podiatric conditions. Plantar fasciitis — the leading cause of heel pain — is among our highest-volume diagnoses, affecting runners on the area’s trails, hospital workers at Sparrow Health and McLaren, and active families throughout Meridian Township. Bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and toenail fungus represent common structural and dermatological concerns.
We provide comprehensive diabetic foot care for the area’s diabetic population, sports medicine services for athletes across the spectrum of activity levels, and pediatric foot evaluations for families concerned about their children’s foot development. For conditions requiring surgical intervention, our podiatric surgeons perform a complete range of foot and ankle procedures.
The MSU Athletic Community
Michigan State University’s Division I athletic programs, club sports, recreational facilities, and the tens of thousands of students who run, cycle, play intramural sports, and train at the IM West and IM Circle fitness centers represent a substantial demand for sports podiatric care. Running injuries, ankle sprains, stress fractures, and overuse conditions are common among this physically active population.
Our sports podiatry services — biomechanical gait analysis, custom orthotics, injection therapies, return-to-sport planning — are designed with the demands of competitive and recreational athletes in mind. We understand the academic calendar and work to provide efficient care that minimizes time away from training and competition.
Running and Outdoor Recreation
East Lansing and Meridian Township offer excellent running infrastructure — the MSU campus trails, Meridian Township parks, and the Clinton River and Red Cedar River pathways attract runners year-round. Our running medicine practice addresses the overuse injuries that accumulate in this active community: plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, Achilles tendinopathy, and metatarsalgia are managed with precision and a return-to-running focus.
Healthcare Worker Foot Care
The greater Lansing area is home to major healthcare systems including Sparrow, McLaren, and affiliated medical practices and surgical centers. Nurses, physicians, allied health professionals, and hospital support staff face some of the most demanding occupational foot requirements of any profession, and we provide tailored foot care that accounts for the rigors of clinical shift work — from custom orthotics to surgical correction of conditions that limit work capacity.
Getting to Balance Foot & Ankle from East Lansing
Our Howell office is accessible from East Lansing via I-96 east — approximately 30 minutes — making it the most convenient location for most Ingham County patients. Our Bloomfield Township office provides an alternative for those traveling further into Oakland County. Call (810) 206-1402 or book online to schedule your appointment. We accept most major insurance plans and welcome new patients from the East Lansing and Meridian Township community.
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.
PowerStep Pinnacle Insole
- The Pinnacle Full length insoles for men & women provide maximum cushioning, from high activity to moderate support. The PowerStep arch support shape provides stability to the foot and ankle, helping to relieve foot pain.
- When you spend all day on your feet, every step counts. PowerStep insoles are a podiatrist-recommended orthotic to help relieve & prevent foot pain related to athletes, runners, Plantar Fasciitis, heel spurs & other common foot, ankle & knee injuries
- The Pinnacle plantar fasciitis insoles offer superior heel cushioning and arch support. The dual-layer cushioning is designed to reduce stress and fatigue, while PowerStep premium arch support is designed for plantar fasciitis relief.
- The PowerStep Pinnacle arch support inserts for men & women can be worn in a variety of shoe types such as; athletic, walking, running, work & some casual shoes. Orthotic Inserts are ordered by shoe size, no trimming required.
- Made in the USA & backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. PowerStep orthotic inserts for men & women are designed for shoes where the factory insole can be removed. HSA & FSA Eligible
The podiatrist-recommended over-the-counter orthotic.
OOFOS Recovery Slide
- The Original Recovery Footwear.
- Finding Your Size - For your perfect fit, consult the “size chart” link above. Wear a half size? In general, we recommend that women who wear a ½ size size UP, and men who wear a ½ size size DOWN
- OOahh - An evolution of the OOriginal, the OOahh slide features our proven foundation of OOfoam technology + patented footbed design with a slide-style strap that has become a best-seller in the OOFOS line
- OOfoam Technology - Our revolutionary OOfoam technology absorbs 37% more impact than traditional footwear foams to reduce the stress on your feet, joints & back. Plus, the closed-cell foam is machine washable and designed to minimize odor
- Patented Footbed - Our patented footbed cradles and supports arches to reduce energy exertion in the ankles by up to 47% compared to competitors’ footwear. So walking is easier. Recovery is faster. And yOO feel better
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 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)