Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM
Board-certified podiatric surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
Last reviewed: May 2026
Plantar fasciitis near Novi fails conservative treatment in 10% of cases — and the reason is almost always one of three things: the wrong stretching protocol, barefoot walking at home, or an undiagnosed Baxter’s nerve entrapment masquerading as plantar fasciitis. EPAT shockwave resolves most persistent cases without surgery. Call (810) 206-1402 — plantar fasciitis treatment in Novi.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Close to Novi, MI
That sharp stabbing pain when you take your first steps in the morning is one of the most recognizable symptoms in all of podiatry — plantar fasciitis. And yet it’s one of the most under-treated conditions we see, with patients spending months doing the wrong stretches in the wrong sequence. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we’ve helped Novi-area patients get lasting relief through accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment.
- High Arch Support: PowerStep supination insoles deliver firm, flexible high arch support plus a deep heel cradle for comfort, stability & motion control, helping align feet, reduce pain, and protect against ball & heel pressure.
- All Day Comfort & Support: PowerStep Pinnacle High shoe inserts for women and men use premium dual layer cushioning to deliver heel to toe comfort and responsive bounce back with every step, without going flat.
- Relieves & Helps Prevent Pain: PowerStep Pinnacle High insoles for supination can help alleviate common foot conditions often linked to supination, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, fat pad atrophy, and Morton’s neuroma.
- No Trimming: PowerStep insoles move easily from shoe to shoe. Inserts are sized by shoe size for footwear with removable factory insoles. Designed for walking, running, work & casual dress shoes; pairs well with best walking shoes for women and men.
- Made in the USA: We stand behind our PowerStep Insoles for women and men. Proudly made in the USA & backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. HSA & FSA Eligible
In our clinic, we use digital pressure mapping to identify which part of your arch is failing and why. This 10-minute scan changes everything — it’s the difference between recommending a generic cushioned insert and prescribing a custom orthotic with the exact posting needed to offload your inflamed fascia.
What Treatment Looks Like
We begin with the least invasive effective intervention. For most patients, this is custom 3D-printed orthotics combined with a specific stretching protocol — eccentric calf work, plantar fascia stretches on waking, and a short-term activity modification. For patients with significant inflammation, we may add anti-inflammatory injections or a short course of oral NSAIDs.
For plantar fasciitis that hasn’t responded to 8-12 weeks of conservative care, we offer extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), which uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in the fascia insertion. This in-office procedure requires no anesthesia and has a 70-80% success rate for chronic cases. Surgical options are reserved for the small percentage of patients who don’t respond to all other treatments.
Key takeaway: Do your plantar fascia stretches warm, not cold. Stretching a cold, stiff fascia first thing in the morning increases micro-tearing. Apply heat for 5 minutes before your first stretch of the day — this alone improves outcomes significantly.
Why Balance Foot & Ankle
Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM brings over a decade of clinical experience and 3,000+ surgeries to every patient evaluation. His YouTube channel — @MichiganFootDoctors — reaches nearly a million patients per year with honest, no-nonsense education about foot conditions. Our Bloomfield Hills office serves the entire West Oakland County community including Novi, Wixom, South Lyon, and Milford.
⚠️ See a podiatrist if your heel pain:
- Hasn’t improved after 6 weeks of stretching and rest
- Is present at rest or during the night (not just first-step pain)
- Is accompanied by numbness or tingling in the heel
- Developed suddenly after a fall or impact
Insurance & Scheduling
Same-day appointments available. Directions from Novi: Take Haggerty Rd north to M-5 east, then Woodward Ave south. Office at 43494 Woodward Ave, Suite 208, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 — approximately 15 minutes. Call (810) 206-1402 or book online.
Ready to Get Relief?
Same-day appointments available in Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
4.9★ | 1,123 Reviews | 3,000+ Surgeries
Or call: (810) 206-1402
For a complete clinical overview: Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Guide — every treatment from stretching to surgery
How quickly can I get a podiatry appointment in Southeast Michigan?
Same-week appointments available at our Howell, Milford, Fenton, Hartland, and surrounding locations.
What does Balance Foot & Ankle specialize in?
Comprehensive foot and ankle care — plantar fasciitis, bunions, toenail conditions, ankle surgery, diabetic foot care, and custom orthotics.
📋 Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS answers:
Patients throughout Novi and Western Oakland County come to our Balance Foot and Ankle clinic for plantar fasciitis diagnosis and treatment. Plantar fasciitis is the most common foot condition we treat — the characteristic sharp inferior heel pain with the first steps in the morning that partially improves with walking is recognizable, but the underlying biomechanical drivers vary significantly between patients. Some cases stem from tight calf muscles that increase fascial traction at the calcaneal insertion. Others are driven by excessive pronation and arch collapse that overstretches the fascia under load. Occupational factors — long hours on hard concrete floors, sudden increases in standing time — frequently trigger first presentations. Our Novi-area patients benefit from a thorough biomechanical evaluation, weight-bearing X-ray to rule out stress fractures and measure heel spur development, and ultrasound imaging to assess fascial thickness and rule out partial tear when the presentation is atypical. Treatment is tailored to the individual: stretching protocols, custom orthotics, appropriate footwear changes, and when needed, corticosteroid injection or shockwave therapy. Most Novi patients achieve significant relief within 6 to 8 weeks of consistent conservative care. If you are in Novi, Northville, South Lyon, or the surrounding area and dealing with heel pain, contact our office for a same-week appointment.
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified foot & ankle surgeon (ABFAS & ABPM) 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 made him one of the most-followed foot & ankle educators on YouTube.