Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Quick Answer:
Quick Answer: Balance Foot & Ankle PLLC serves Port Huron and St. Clair County residents with telehealth consultations and in-person appointments at our Howell, MI office. Dr. Tom Biernacki treats all foot and ankle conditions including heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, and sports injuries. Call (517) 579-1881 to schedule your appointment.
Port Huron — the Blue Water City at the convergence of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River — anchors Michigan’s Thumb region as a thriving community of mariners, industrial workers, and outdoor enthusiasts. At Balance Foot & Ankle PLLC, Dr. Tom Biernacki provides comprehensive foot and ankle care for Port Huron and St. Clair County residents through telehealth consultations and in-person appointments at our Howell, MI office.
Foot Conditions Treated for Port Huron & Blue Water Patients
St. Clair County’s active outdoor culture — boating on Lake Huron, walking the Blue Water River Walk, and the annual Blue Water Festival — places specific demands on feet and ankles. Dr. Biernacki treats the full spectrum of podiatric conditions: heel pain (plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy), bunions and hammertoes, diabetic foot care and neuropathy management, ankle sprains and sports injuries, nail conditions, wound care, and complex reconstructive surgery for flatfoot, cavus foot, and ankle arthritis.
Industrial & Maritime Worker Foot Health
Port Huron’s economy includes significant manufacturing, port, and utility employment — industries where workers spend hours on concrete, metal grating, and uneven surfaces. Occupational foot health concerns in this workforce include plantar fasciitis from prolonged standing, work-boot-related pressure injuries, ankle sprains from industrial environments, and traumatic foot injuries. Proper work boot selection with orthotics is critical for injury prevention — Dr. Biernacki provides custom orthotic prescriptions designed for safety boot environments.
Diabetic Foot Care for St. Clair County
St. Clair County’s diabetic population requires proactive podiatric surveillance to prevent the devastating consequences of neuropathy and vascular disease. Dr. Biernacki provides annual diabetic foot exams (Medicare-covered), monofilament neuropathy testing, ABI vascular assessment, and custom diabetic footwear prescriptions. Regular foot exams identify at-risk features before ulceration occurs — catching calluses over pressure points, early neuropathy, and skin integrity issues that precede wounds.
Accessing Care from Port Huron
Port Huron to our Howell office is approximately 60–70 minutes via I-94 West — reasonable for procedures and in-person evaluations. Telehealth consultations via HIPAA-compliant video make initial consultations, follow-ups, and prescription renewals accessible from home. Many St. Clair County patients complete their initial evaluation via telehealth and come in-person only for procedures such as injection therapy, nail procedures, or surgical consultation.
Scheduling for Blue Water Area Patients
Balance Foot & Ankle accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and most major commercial plans. Same-week appointments are typically available for urgent concerns. Call (517) 579-1881 or visit MichiganFootDoctors.com to request an appointment online.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
PowerStep Pinnacle Maxx Insoles
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Maximum support arch insoles for industrial and work boot environments. Provides firm heel cup and arch support for workers on concrete floors in the Port Huron area.
Dr. Tom says: “Finally found insoles that fit my steel-toe work boots and actually help my plantar fasciitis.”
Industrial workers, prolonged standing, plantar fasciitis in work boots
Low-volume fashion shoes
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Doctor Hoy’s Natural Foot Repair Gel
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Natural topical analgesic for foot pain relief. Popular with Port Huron area workers and outdoor enthusiasts managing daily foot aches and mild inflammation.
Dr. Tom says: “This gel is part of my daily routine after long shifts — highly recommend for anyone on their feet all day.”
Heel pain, general foot fatigue, mild plantar fasciitis
Open wounds or infections — seek medical care
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- Telehealth eliminates most of the drive from Port Huron for consultations
- Industrial worker expertise with work-boot-compatible orthotic prescriptions
- Medicare-covered diabetic foot exams for St. Clair County seniors
❌ Cons / Risks
- In-person procedures require 60–70 minute drive to Howell, MI
- Complex surgical patients may prefer a closer provider for post-operative visits
- Limited telehealth for conditions requiring hands-on physical examination
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
The Blue Water area is a great community — hardworking people who take their health seriously. I see a lot of industrial workers and outdoor enthusiasts from the Port Huron area, and their foot health needs are specific to their lifestyle. Telehealth has made it so much easier to connect with St. Clair County patients: they can show me their feet on camera, I can review X-rays they’ve had done locally, and we can build a treatment plan without them needing to make the trip to Howell for every visit.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a podiatrist near Port Huron, Michigan?
Balance Foot & Ankle PLLC serves Port Huron and St. Clair County patients through telehealth and in-person appointments at our Howell, MI office (approximately 60–70 minutes away). Dr. Tom Biernacki provides expert care for all foot and ankle conditions. Call (517) 579-1881 or visit MichiganFootDoctors.com for appointments.
What foot problems are common in industrial workers in Port Huron?
Port Huron’s industrial workforce commonly develops plantar fasciitis from prolonged concrete standing, metatarsalgia from rigid boot soles, ankle sprains, and pressure-related skin lesions from ill-fitting work boots. Custom orthotics for safety boot environments and proper work boot selection are the most effective preventive strategies. Dr. Biernacki specializes in occupational foot health and custom orthotic prescriptions for industrial use.
Does Balance Foot & Ankle treat diabetic foot problems for St. Clair County patients?
Yes. Dr. Biernacki provides comprehensive diabetic foot care including annual exams, neuropathy screening, wound care, and custom diabetic footwear prescriptions. Medicare covers one annual diabetic foot exam per year. Telehealth follow-ups make monitoring convenient for Port Huron patients. Early detection of neuropathy and vascular issues prevents wounds and amputation.
Can I see a podiatrist via telehealth from Port Huron?
Yes. Balance Foot & Ankle offers HIPAA-compliant telehealth consultations for Blue Water area residents. Telehealth is ideal for initial evaluations, reviewing X-ray results, follow-up appointments, and managing chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis or diabetic foot care. In-person visits at our Howell office are arranged when physical examination, procedures, or surgery consultation is needed.
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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)