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 Hastings Michigan Foot Ankle isn’t which treatment to start with — it’s identifying the correct subtype. That changes everything. Call (810) 206-1402.
Podiatric Care for Hastings, Michigan and Barry County
Hastings is the county seat of Barry County, Michigan, located along the M-43 corridor in the west-central lower peninsula. With a population of approximately 7,500, Hastings serves as the commercial and governmental hub for surrounding Barry County communities including Middleville, Nashville, Woodland, Delton, Freeport, and Yankee Springs. Residents of Hastings and throughout Barry County access specialized foot and ankle care at Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell, Michigan, under the care of Dr. Tom Biernacki — a board-certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon.
Hastings’ mix of light industry, retail, outdoor recreation, and rural agricultural surroundings creates a diverse patient population with a many foot health needs. Running and recreational athletic injuries, work-related foot conditions, diabetic foot care, and age-related foot changes are all common presentations from Barry County patients. Dr. Biernacki brings the same level of specialist expertise available in major Michigan medical centers to patients throughout rural west-central Michigan.
Comprehensive Podiatric Services for Barry County Patients
Dr. Biernacki provides the full scope of podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. Heel pain evaluation and treatment — plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, fat pad syndrome, nerve entrapment — represents a core service with custom orthotics, injection therapy, shockwave treatment, and surgical release available for all presentations. Running injuries from the active Hastings-area community are evaluated with biomechanical assessment, gait analysis, and tailored rehabilitation protocols targeting both the pathological tissue and the training/footwear factors driving the injury.
Nail conditions including ingrown toenails, fungal nail infections, and traumatic nail injuries are treated in-office. The permanent ingrown toenail cure via partial nail avulsion and phenol matrixectomy eliminates recurrent infections with a 95% cure rate under local anesthesia in 20 minutes. Forefoot conditions including bunions, hammertoes, Morton’s neuroma, and big toe arthritis (hallux limitus/rigidus) are evaluated and managed conservatively and surgically.
Diabetic Foot Care in Barry County
Diabetes affects a significant proportion of Barry County residents, and its foot complications — peripheral neuropathy, vascular disease, pressure ulcers — require specialist monitoring to prevent limb-threatening complications. Balance Foot & Ankle provides annual Medicare-covered diabetic foot exams, comprehensive neuropathy testing, vascular screening, and therapeutic footwear prescription. For patients with active diabetic foot wounds, Dr. Biernacki provides evidence-based wound care including sharp debridement, advanced dressings, offloading orthosis, and multidisciplinary coordination when required. Early specialist evaluation — within the first two weeks of any new foot wound — is the most important single intervention for preventing diabetic foot amputation.
Sports and Recreational Injury Care
Barry County’s active outdoor lifestyle — including the popular Yankee Springs State Recreation Area, Thornapple River recreation corridor, and Barry State Game Area — drives significant sports and recreational foot and ankle injury volume. Ankle sprains from trail and terrain activities, stress fractures from running intensification, Achilles tendon injuries, and overuse tendinopathies are all commonly evaluated. Dr. Biernacki provides sports medicine-oriented evaluation with weight-bearing radiographic assessment, MRI coordination when needed, and both conservative and surgical management focused on rapid, safe return to activity.
Surgical Options for Hastings-Area Patients
When surgical intervention is appropriate, Dr. Biernacki performs a comprehensive range of foot and ankle procedures. Minimally invasive bunion surgery (MICA technique) provides excellent correction with smaller incisions than traditional open bunionectomy. Hammertoe correction, plantar fascia release, Achilles tendon surgery, ankle stabilization (Broström-Gould), and digital procedures for toe and nail conditions are all performed with a focus on minimizing recovery time.
Getting to Balance Foot & Ankle from Hastings
From Hastings, travel east on M-43 approximately 50–55 miles to Howell, Michigan. Balance Foot & Ankle is conveniently located in Howell with ample parking. The drive from Hastings is typically 50–60 minutes via M-43 East. Patients from Middleville travel north on M-37 to M-43 East. Call (517) 525-1747 for specific directions from your address. New patients from Hastings and throughout Barry County are always welcome.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Brooks Ghost 15 Running Shoe
⭐ Highly Rated
Versatile daily training running shoe with 12mm heel drop and BioMoGo DNA cushioning. Recommended starting point for runners with plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and heel pain.
Dr. Tom says: “My podiatrist recommended the Ghost series as a heel drop and cushion target for my plantar fasciitis — it’s made a real difference in my morning pain during training.”
Plantar fasciitis; Achilles tendinopathy; general running; neutral to mild overpronators
Shoe selection should be confirmed with your podiatrist for your specific foot type
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
PowerStep ProTech Full Length Orthotics
⭐ Highly Rated
Firm semi-rigid orthotic insole with metatarsal support and deep heel cup for plantar fasciitis, arch pain, and running overuse injuries. Compatible with most athletic footwear.
Dr. Tom says: “These are the best OTC orthotics I’ve used while waiting for my custom orthotics to be made — firm enough to actually control my overpronation.”
Plantar fasciitis; running overuse injuries; overpronation management
Not a substitute for custom orthotics in structural deformity or precision biomechanical correction
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
Hastings and Barry County patients have a great outdoor lifestyle with Yankee Springs and the Thornapple corridor nearby — and with active outdoor recreation comes a real need for quality foot and ankle care when injuries happen. We see runners, hunters, hikers, and weekend athletes from Barry County regularly, and we’re always glad to help people get back to the activities they love.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Hastings from Balance Foot & Ankle?
Hastings is approximately 50–60 miles from our Howell office — about a 50–60 minute drive via M-43 East. This makes Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell an accessible specialty option for Hastings and Barry County residents. Call (517) 525-1747 for specific directions.
Does Dr. Biernacki treat running injuries from trail runners?
Yes. Trail running injuries — ankle sprains from uneven terrain, stress fractures from rocky surface impact, peroneal tendinopathy from cambered trail surfaces — are routinely evaluated. Dr. Biernacki provides biomechanical assessment, footwear recommendations for trail-specific shoes, and tailored rehabilitation targeting trail running demands.
Can I get custom orthotics for running from Balance Foot & Ankle?
Yes. Running-specific custom orthotics are fabricated from precise three-dimensional foot scans and prescribed to address your specific biomechanical risk factors — overpronation, Morton’s foot, first ray insufficiency, or plantar fascia tensioning. Running-specific orthotic profiles are typically thinner and more flexible than walking orthotics to fit properly in athletic footwear.
Does Balance Foot & Ankle serve patients from Middleville and Nashville, Michigan?
Yes. Patients from Middleville, Nashville, Woodland, Delton, Freeport, and all surrounding Barry County communities are welcome at Balance Foot & Ankle. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance plans.
What is the most important thing I can do to prevent running injuries?
The most evidence-based injury prevention strategy is training load management — increasing weekly mileage by no more than 10% per week, avoiding sudden changes in running surface, and allowing adequate recovery between hard training days. Custom orthotics addressing biomechanical risk factors and appropriate footwear for your gait type are the most important equipment-based interventions. A comprehensive evaluation at the first sign of a developing injury — rather than running through it — dramatically improves outcomes.
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.
Visit Balance Foot & Ankle — Same-Day Appointments Available
Our podiatry team serves patients throughout Michigan including Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Hills. Whether you’re dealing with heel pain, ingrown toenails, or a foot injury, we have same-day appointment availability.
Find a Board-Certified Podiatrist (American Podiatric Medical Association)
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
📋 Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS answers:
No referral is needed to see our podiatrist near Hastings. You can call or book online directly. Most major insurance plans are accepted, including Blue Cross, Medicare, Aetna, Priority Health, and United Healthcare. We treat the full range of foot and ankle conditions including plantar fasciitis, bunions, ingrown toenails, diabetic foot care, neuropathy, and sports injuries. Our board-certified DPM provides both conservative and surgical care. Same-week and urgent appointments are available for residents of the Hastings area.
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.