Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM
Board-certified podiatric surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
Last reviewed: May 2026
Balance Foot & Ankle offers same-day appointments for urgent foot and ankle conditions across Southeast Michigan — but the most important factor in outcomes isn’t getting seen quickly. Our podiatrists explain what to do in the first 24-48 hours before your appointment that most patients skip entirely. Call (810) 206-1402 — expert podiatric care across Michigan.
Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
The most important clinical decision with Podiatrist Centennial Michigan Foot Ankle isn’t which treatment to start with — it’s identifying the correct subtype. That changes everything. Call (810) 206-1402.
Centennial, Michigan: Adams Township History
Centennial is a small community in Adams Township, Houghton County, situated in the heart of Michigan’s historic Copper Country. The township and its communities share the deep mining heritage that defines the Keweenaw Peninsula — a landscape shaped by the extraction of native copper that made this region the most productive copper-mining area in the world during the mid-19th century. The community sits amid the forests and rocky terrain of the Keweenaw, surrounded by the remnants of the industrial infrastructure that once powered a global copper trade.
Adams Township encompasses a number of small communities along the Portage Lake corridor, including Atlantic Mine, Painesdale, and Centennial. The area’s identity is intertwined with the Copper Range Company and the communities it created — planned mining towns with distinctive architecture, ethnic churches, and social institutions that reflect the Finnish, Cornish, Italian, and Slovenian immigrant heritage of the region’s labor force.
Foot Health Needs in Adams Township
Adams Township residents share the Keweenaw Peninsula’s characteristic foot health landscape: extreme winters requiring excellent traction footwear, outdoor recreation demanding biomechanically sound footwear, and a heritage population with mining and industrial labor backgrounds. The community’s working-age residents include contractors, tradespeople, and agricultural workers who develop occupational foot conditions from prolonged standing, heavy boots, and repetitive physical demands.
The UP’s rural character means specialist medical care requires travel. For podiatric care specifically — a specialty requiring diagnostic imaging, surgical expertise, and biomechanical knowledge — residents must seek care outside the immediate Houghton County area or make the drive to our clinic in southern Michigan. We provide comprehensive podiatric services and telemedicine options to make that access as convenient as possible.
Our Services for Centennial Patients
Balance Foot and Ankle provides the full spectrum of podiatric care for Adams Township residents. Common presentations include plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, ankle sprains, diabetic foot surveillance, bunions and hammertoes, and heel pain of all causes. Surgical referrals — reconstructive flatfoot procedures, bunion correction, ankle arthroscopy — are welcomed from the Houghton County area.
We complete on-site digital X-ray at your visit. Custom orthotics are scanned or cast and mailed to UP addresses. We accept Michigan Medicaid, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and most major commercial plans. Telemedicine appointments are available for appropriate follow-up and stable conditions — call (517) 545-0747 to determine eligibility.
Planning Your Visit
From Centennial in Adams Township, the drive south to Balance Foot and Ankle takes approximately 5.5 hours via US-41 South through Houghton and connecting routes through the UP. We schedule efficiently and ensure all diagnostic imaging is completed at your visit. Many Adams Township patients time their appointment with lower-peninsula visits or errands. Early-morning scheduling allows a comfortable same-day return to the UP. Our staff understands the commitment UP patients make to access specialist care and we work to ensure every visit is thorough and productive.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
LaCrosse Alphaburly Pro Hunting Boot
⭐ Highly Rated
Heavy-duty neoprene rubber hunting boot for Adams Township’s hunting and outdoor work season. Waterproof, insulated, and with a lugged outsole for the varied terrain of Houghton County forests.
Dr. Tom says: “These are my go-to boots for fall hunting season in the UP. Warm, waterproof, and after switching to these my heel pain from inadequate hunting boots resolved.”
Hunters, outdoor workers, UP fall and early winter season activities
Year-round daily use — these are specialized for outdoor field conditions
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Spenco Medics Walker Orthotic Insoles
⭐ Highly Rated
Medical-grade OTC orthotic insole with rigid arch support and deep heel cup. Suitable as a first-step conservative measure for plantar fasciitis and arch pain in Houghton County patients pursuing care before a specialist visit.
Dr. Tom says: “My podiatrist confirmed my plantar fasciitis and said these were a reasonable bridge while we developed a longer-term plan. More supportive than standard insoles.”
Plantar fasciitis, arch pain, patients pursuing conservative care before specialist evaluation
Severe structural foot problems requiring custom orthotics or surgical consultation
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cramer Heel and Lace Pads Athletic Felt
⭐ Highly Rated
Adhesive-backed athletic felt padding for creating custom heel lifts, metatarsal pads, and pressure-relief cutouts — essential for UP patients doing DIY foot care between specialist visits.
Dr. Tom says: “My podiatrist showed me how to use felt padding to offload a painful callus between appointments. This pack has lasted me almost two years and saved multiple trips south.”
DIY foot care, offloading calluses and pressure areas, temporary padding solutions
Diabetic patients — should not self-pad without podiatrist guidance due to neuropathy risk
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- Telemedicine available to reduce travel requirements for appropriate conditions
- All diagnostic imaging completed in a single visit
- Custom orthotics mailable to Adams Township addresses
- Accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and major commercial Michigan insurance
❌ Cons / Risks
- In-person care requires 5.5-hour travel — full-day commitment required
- Telemedicine appropriate only for select conditions
- UP winter conditions may require flexible scheduling
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
Adams Township — Atlantic Mine, Painesdale, Centennial — those communities carry remarkable history. The planned mining town architecture, the Finnish sauna culture, the Cornish pasty tradition — it’s a living museum of American immigrant labor history. And the people there are tough, resourceful, and don’t complain much. Which is great in most contexts, but in medicine, it sometimes means they come in later than they should have. My message to Houghton County patients: don’t wait until you can barely walk before seeking care for a foot problem. The earlier you come in — for a bunion, for heel pain, for a toenail that’s been ingrown for a year — the simpler the fix. And with telemedicine now available for some conditions, the barrier to getting that first evaluation is lower than it used to be. — Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, Balance Foot and Ankle PLLC
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Centennial Michigan from Balance Foot and Ankle?
Centennial in Adams Township, Houghton County is approximately 5.5 hours from our Howell-area clinic. We recommend morning appointments for a same-day return.
Can I get custom orthotics without making a return trip?
Yes. We scan or cast at your initial visit and mail finished orthotics to your UP address within 2–3 weeks.
What insurance do you accept from UP patients?
Medicare, Michigan Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and most major commercial plans. Call to verify your specific plan before scheduling.
What foot conditions do you treat for Houghton County residents?
Plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, ankle sprains and instability, bunions, hammertoes, diabetic foot care, heel pain, and complex surgical cases for which we serve as the specialist referral destination for UP patients.
Michigan Foot Pain? See Dr. Biernacki In Person
4.9★ rated | 1,123 Reviews | 3,000+ Surgeries
Same-week appointments · Howell & Bloomfield Hills
📞 (810) 206-1402 Book Online →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a podiatrist?
If symptoms persist past 2 weeks, affect your normal activity, or are accompanied by red-flag symptoms (warmth, redness, swelling, inability to bear weight).
What does treatment cost?
Most diagnostic visits and conservative treatments are covered by Medicare and major insurers. Out-of-pocket costs vary by your specific plan.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
Most non-urgent cases see us within 5 business days. Urgent cases (sudden pain, possible fracture) typically same or next business day.
In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle
If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your ankle condition, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.
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Same-day appointments available in Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
4.9★ | 1,123 Reviews | 3,000+ Surgeries
Or call: (810) 206-1402
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.