Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Quick Answer:
Quick Answer: Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell serves patients from Auburn Hills, Rochester, Rochester Hills, and northern Oakland County. The Howell office is approximately 55–65 minutes from Auburn Hills via M-59 West. Dr. Biernacki provides comprehensive podiatric care for all foot and ankle conditions including bunions, heel pain, sports injuries, and complex surgical cases. Telehealth consultations available. Schedule at MichiganFootDoctors.com.
Auburn Hills and Rochester are two of northern Oakland County’s most prominent communities—Auburn Hills as home to the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, Chrysler’s global headquarters, and Oakland University; Rochester as one of metro Detroit’s most walkable and architecturally distinguished downtown areas along the Paint Creek Trail. Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell is pleased to serve patients from both cities who seek expert podiatric care in an independent private practice setting.
Getting to Balance Foot & Ankle from Auburn Hills and Rochester
Auburn Hills and Rochester patients benefit from a particularly direct route to our Howell office: M-59 West runs directly from Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills through the heart of Oakland and Livingston Counties, arriving at our East Highland Road office in Howell. The drive is approximately 55–65 minutes—nearly all on M-59 without a complex freeway interchange. Many northern Oakland County patients schedule appointments and combine the trip with other Howell-area errands or visits to the Howell/Brighton commercial corridor.
Telehealth initial consultations are available at MichiganFootDoctors.com for Auburn Hills and Rochester patients who want a preliminary assessment before the M-59 drive. Dr. Biernacki reviews symptoms, discusses history, and can view uploaded imaging during a video visit—determining urgency and planning the in-person evaluation efficiently.
Active Lifestyle Podiatry for Northern Oakland County
Rochester and Auburn Hills are home to active outdoor recreation communities with access to the Paint Creek Trail (a 8.9-mile rail-trail through Rochester Hills), the Pontiac Lake trails in Auburn Hills, and the broader Huron-Clinton Metropark system. This active community generates consistent sports podiatry needs that Dr. Biernacki addresses with evidence-based, sport-specific protocols:
Trail running injuries: Rochester’s Paint Creek Trail is one of metro Detroit’s premier trail running destinations. Trail runners present with ankle sprains from uneven surfaces, stress fractures, and peroneal tendinopathy from lateral trail running forces. Dr. Biernacki develops trail-specific rehabilitation and orthotic prescriptions for return to technical terrain.
Oakland University athlete injuries: Auburn Hills is adjacent to Oakland University, whose athletes and physically active student population present with a range of sports injuries including ankle instability, stress fractures, and overuse tendinopathies. Dr. Biernacki works with collegiate-level athletes on rapid return-to-sport protocols.
Corporate and professional community conditions: Auburn Hills’ corporate campus environment—including Stellantis/FCA, BorgWarner, and numerous automotive suppliers—creates an active professional population managing plantar fasciitis and ankle conditions from the combination of long work hours, business travel, and recreational activity demands.
Comprehensive Podiatric Services for Northern Oakland County Patients
Dr. Biernacki provides the full spectrum of foot and ankle services for Auburn Hills and Rochester patients. Bunion and hammertoe correction with minimally invasive and Lapiplasty 3D surgical options. Heel pain and plantar fasciitis management with targeted injection, custom orthotics, and physical therapy. Ankle instability and sports injuries with surgical stabilization when conservative management fails. Custom orthotics fabricated for trail running, athletic, and professional footwear needs. Diabetic foot care for patients in the northern Oakland County community managing diabetes with peripheral neuropathy.
Balance Foot & Ankle accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Priority Health, Medicare, and Medicaid. Schedule at MichiganFootDoctors.com (24/7) or call (517) 579-1881 for same-day urgent care when needed.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Brooks Cascadia Trail Running Shoes
⭐ Highly Rated | Foundation Wellness Partner | 30% Commission
Trail-specific running shoes with protective rock plate and lateral ankle support—ideal for Rochester’s Paint Creek Trail and Auburn Hills trail running.
Dr. Tom says: “My podiatrist recommended proper trail shoes for my Paint Creek ankle sprain—changed how I run on technical terrain.”
Trail runners from Paint Creek, Pontiac Lake, and northern Oakland County recreation areas
Road runners who need cushioning-optimized road-specific shoes rather than trail-specific protection
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Aircast A60 Ankle Brace for Trail Use
⭐ Highly Rated | Foundation Wellness Partner | 30% Commission
Lightweight low-profile ankle brace designed for trail running and sport—prevents ankle inversion on uneven terrain during Paint Creek Trail use.
Dr. Tom says: “Wore this on Paint Creek after my sprain last fall—zero re-injuries all season.”
Trail runners and active patients from Paint Creek and Pontiac Lake with lateral ankle instability
Patients with severe instability requiring rigid bracing or surgical stabilization consultation
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx Insoles
⭐ Highly Rated | Foundation Wellness Partner | 30% Commission
Maximum-support insoles for active northern Oakland County patients—firm arch control and heel cup for plantar fasciitis and running injury prevention.
Dr. Tom says: “Dr. Biernacki recommended these while my custom orthotics were being fabricated—excellent arch support.”
Active patients from Auburn Hills and Rochester managing plantar fasciitis or overpronation during rehabilitation
Patients with confirmed biomechanical issues requiring custom prescription orthotics
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- M-59 West provides a direct route from Auburn Hills and Rochester to Howell—no complex freeway interchanges
- Trail-specific sports podiatry for Paint Creek Trail and Pontiac Lake recreation area communities
- Telehealth consultations available for northern Oakland County patients before the M-59 drive
❌ Cons / Risks
- 55–65 minute drive from Auburn Hills and Rochester requires advance scheduling planning
- Northern Oakland County has podiatric options at Beaumont (Corewell) and McLaren system clinics locally
- Complex surgical follow-up requires multiple M-59 drives for northern Oakland County patients
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
Auburn Hills and Rochester patients have a direct shot to Howell on M-59—it’s actually one of the cleaner commutes of any Oakland County city we serve. The Paint Creek Trail community is one I particularly enjoy serving: trail runners have such a specific set of ankle and foot demands from technical terrain, and getting them back to their trail with the right shoes, orthotics, and rehabilitation plan is genuinely satisfying work. I also see a lot of corporate-community patients from the Auburn Hills automotive campus who need foot care that fits around demanding travel and work schedules—we accommodate that with flexible scheduling and telehealth options. Come see us at Balance Foot & Ankle.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Balance Foot & Ankle from Auburn Hills, Michigan?
Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell is approximately 55–65 minutes from Auburn Hills via M-59 West—a direct route with no complex freeway interchanges. Many Auburn Hills patients find M-59 a familiar and easy drive to Howell.
Does Dr. Biernacki see patients from Rochester, Michigan?
Yes—Dr. Biernacki welcomes patients from Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, and northern Oakland County at Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell. The drive from Rochester via M-59 West is approximately 55–65 minutes.
What insurance is accepted from Auburn Hills and Rochester patients?
Balance Foot & Ankle accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Priority Health, Medicare, and Medicaid. Call (517) 579-1881 to verify your specific plan.
Is a telehealth consultation available for northern Oakland County patients?
Yes—Dr. Biernacki offers telehealth initial consultations for patients from Auburn Hills, Rochester, and northern Oakland County. Schedule at MichiganFootDoctors.com.
Does Dr. Biernacki treat trail running injuries for Paint Creek Trail runners?
Yes—Dr. Biernacki provides sports podiatry for trail runners from the Paint Creek Trail, Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, and other Oakland County trail systems, including ankle sprain management, stress fracture evaluation, and trail-specific custom orthotic fabrication.
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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)