Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Quick Answer:
Quick Answer: Balance Foot & Ankle welcomes patients from Hastings and Barry County to our Howell, Michigan clinic. Dr. Tom Biernacki provides comprehensive podiatric care including heel pain, bunion surgery, ankle reconstruction, and diabetic foot care for west-central Michigan patients. Call (517) 579-4800 to schedule.
Foot and Ankle Care for Hastings and Barry County
Balance Foot & Ankle serves patients from Hastings and Barry County at our Howell, Michigan location. Barry County’s largely rural community — with significant agricultural, manufacturing, and outdoor recreation activity — generates foot conditions that benefit from both conservative podiatric expertise and advanced surgical capabilities. Dr. Tom Biernacki provides the full spectrum of care for patients of all ages and activity levels from the Hastings area.
Rural and Agricultural Foot Care
Agricultural workers and rural residents face specific foot challenges — prolonged standing and walking on uneven terrain, work boot-related pressure injuries, plantar fasciitis from hard ground surfaces, and peripheral neuropathy common in older farming communities with high rates of diabetes. We provide agricultural work boot orthotics, diabetic surveillance, wound care, and the full range of podiatric services tailored to the needs of rural Michigan patients.
Outdoor Recreation and Hunting Season Care
Barry County’s access to Barry State Game Area and numerous hunting grounds generates seasonal foot injuries — acute ankle sprains, stress fractures from extended field walking, and blister management for hunters unprepared for long days on their feet. We see these presentations regularly and provide rapid evaluation and treatment to get hunters and outdoor enthusiasts back in the field.
Getting to Howell from Hastings
Our Howell clinic is approximately 1 hour from Hastings via M-43 East and I-96 East — making us one of the more accessible options for Barry County patients seeking subspecialty podiatric care. We offer same-day urgent appointments frequently. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Medicare, and Medicaid. Call (517) 579-4800 or visit MichiganFootDoctors.com.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Irish Setter Men’s Wingshooter Hunting Boot
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Premium waterproof hunting boot with orthopedic footbed and shank support — designed for Barry County game area terrain to prevent ankle sprains and plantar fasciitis during hunting season.
Dr. Tom says: “Full-grain leather with ScentBan technology and cushioned heel — 400g Thinsulate for Michigan field conditions with arch support for all-day hunting.”
Hunting season foot support and ankle protection for Barry County outdoorsmen
Requires break-in period — start wearing before hunting season opens
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- Only 1 hour from Hastings — one of our most accessible patient communities.
- Agricultural and rural foot care expertise.
- Seasonal hunting and outdoor recreation injury management.
- Same-day urgent appointments frequently available.
❌ Cons / Risks
- Travel to Howell still required for in-person visits.
- Surgical cases require multiple visits over weeks.
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
Barry County patients are an easy drive for us — 1 hour on I-96. There’s no reason to live with foot pain when relief is that close. Our most common Barry County presentations are plantar fasciitis from farming work and ankle sprains from field hunting. Both are highly treatable — conservative management works 90% of the time when done correctly.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a podiatrist in Hastings, Michigan?
Limited podiatric services may be available in Barry County. For comprehensive conservative and surgical care, patients travel to our Howell clinic — only 1 hour from Hastings via I-96.
Do you treat hunting-related foot injuries?
Yes — ankle sprains, stress fractures, blister management, and wound care from outdoor hunting activities are all within our scope. We see a seasonal spike in these presentations around deer and turkey season.
How quickly can I get an appointment from Hastings?
Being only an hour away, Hastings patients can often be seen with less advance planning than our more distant patient communities. New patients typically within 1–2 weeks; urgent within 24–48 hours.
Do you provide work boot orthotics for farmers?
Yes — agricultural work boot orthotics are fabricated at our Howell office after a biomechanical assessment. We design inserts specifically to fit in work boots and address the pressure patterns of agricultural work.
Michigan Foot Pain? See Dr. Biernacki In Person
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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)