Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, Michigan. Last updated April 2026.
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Foot and Ankle Care for the Great Lakes Bay Region
Midland, Bay City, and the surrounding Great Lakes Bay Region communities are home to a diverse population — from Dow Chemical’s engineering and scientific workforce to outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the Tridge, Chippewa Nature Center, and Saginaw Bay’s recreational waters. When the region’s residents need subspecialty foot and ankle surgical care, Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell and Bloomfield Township is a trusted destination practice.
Why Great Lakes Bay Region Patients Choose Balance Foot & Ankle
While general podiatric practitioners serve Mid-Michigan communities well for routine care, patients with conditions requiring subspecialty expertise — minimally invasive bunion surgery, complex reconstructive flatfoot surgery, ankle arthroscopy, Achilles tendon reconstruction — benefit from traveling to a practice with the equipment, experience, and surgical volume to handle complex cases consistently.
Balance Foot & Ankle offers:
- MICA minimally invasive bunion correction — not universally available in mid-Michigan, MICA offers a dramatically faster recovery than traditional bunionectomy
- Fellowship-level foot and ankle surgical expertise in the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions
- Same-week new patient scheduling — no 3-month wait for an initial surgical consultation
- In-office digital X-ray at every visit for immediate imaging
- Custom orthotics with a 2–3 week turnaround
Conditions Common in the Great Lakes Bay Region Population
Industrial and Manufacturing Worker Foot Conditions
Midland County’s chemical, manufacturing, and engineering industries employ workers who stand on concrete floors for extended shifts. Plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and occupational ankle injuries are consistent sources of Mid-Michigan podiatric referrals.
Diabetic Foot Conditions
The Great Lakes Bay Region has significant diabetes prevalence consistent with national trends in similar industrial communities. We manage complex diabetic foot complications — wound care, Charcot foot, peripheral neuropathy — for patients who require subspecialty podiatric expertise beyond what is available locally.
Outdoor Recreational Injuries
Saginaw Bay fishing and hunting, cycling on Midland’s extensive trail system, and water sports on the Chippewa and Tittabawassee rivers create a steady stream of outdoor recreational foot and ankle injuries from the Bay Region.
Age-Related Foot Conditions
Midland’s aging population brings a high volume of age-related conditions: bunion deformity that has reached surgical candidacy, hallux rigidus requiring first MTP joint fusion or replacement, ankle arthritis, and adult acquired flatfoot from posterior tibial tendon degeneration.
Planning Your Visit from Midland or Bay City
The drive from Midland to our Howell office is approximately 1.5–2 hours via US-10 East/West and I-96. Bay City residents reach us in approximately 1.5 hours via I-75 South to I-96 West. Both drives are straightforward highway routes.
To minimize round trips for Great Lakes Bay Region patients, we:
- Schedule in-office X-rays at the initial visit
- Arrange same-week or next-day MRI referrals at facilities near our offices when needed
- Provide telemedicine follow-up options for post-operative routine check-ins
- Coordinate with local Midland or Bay City physical therapists for post-operative rehabilitation
Insurance and Scheduling
We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network, Priority Health, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Great Lakes Bay Region patients are encouraged to call our office or book online to confirm coverage before their first visit. Most new patients from Midland and Bay City are scheduled within one week of calling.
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)