Post-Hospital Rehabilitation Foot Care — Podiatry During Your Recovery

Recovering in Rehab? Your Feet Need Attention Too

Patients recovering in rehabilitation facilities after hip replacement, knee surgery, stroke, cardiac events, or other major medical events are at elevated foot health risk — and foot problems during rehabilitation can delay recovery or cause falls that set back the entire rehabilitation process. Balance Foot & Ankle provides podiatric services during post-hospital rehabilitation at facilities across Michigan.

Why Foot Care Matters During Rehabilitation

After major surgery or illness, patients often spend weeks in bed or limited mobility — and foot problems develop or worsen during this period. Thick or overgrown nails become painful in compression stockings and hospital socks. Pressure on the heel from bed rest creates ulcer risk, especially in vascular and diabetic patients. Edema from immobility changes foot size and shoe fit, creating pressure injuries when patients begin walking. Spasticity or weakness from neurological events (stroke) requires orthotic evaluation for safe ambulation.

The Wellbridge Partnership

Dr. Vassallo serves as medical director of Wellbridge Rehabilitation Centers in Brighton, Pinckney, and Fenton — rehabilitation facilities where patients commonly transition after hospital stays. Our coordination with Wellbridge ensures that foot care is integrated into the rehabilitation program from the beginning, not added as an afterthought when a problem develops.

What We Provide During Rehabilitation

Nail and skin care for comfort and hygiene, edema assessment and compression guidance, wound monitoring and treatment, orthotic evaluation for safe ambulation, diabetic shoe fitting for patients beginning to weight bear, MLS laser therapy for wound healing or pain management, and clear documentation for the rehabilitation medical team.

Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402. We coordinate with rehabilitation facilities across Michigan.

Professional Podiatric Care in Michigan: Balance Foot & Ankle’s Comprehensive Services

At Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan patients receive comprehensive podiatric care across the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. Our fellowship-trained podiatrists provide conservative and surgical treatment for all foot and ankle pathology — from plantar fasciitis, bunions, and nail disorders to complex reconstructive surgery, diabetic foot care, and sports injuries. Our clinical approach prioritizes accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment selection, and honest communication with patients about realistic outcomes.

We serve patients in Livingston and Oakland counties from two convenient Michigan locations: our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River (serving Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, Howell, and all of Livingston County) and our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 (serving Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, and all of Oakland County). Both offices offer in-office X-ray, same-week new patient appointments, and a full range of diagnostic and treatment services. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Medicare, and most Michigan insurance plans. Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to schedule your appointment.

Michigan patients from throughout the region — Livingston County communities including Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, and Fowlerville, and Oakland County communities including Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and Rochester — can access expert podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our clinical team is committed to providing the highest standard of foot and ankle care available in Southeast Michigan, from routine preventive care to complex surgical intervention. Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule — we look forward to serving you at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills location.

Related Treatment Guides

• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
• Bunion Treatment

Scheduling with Balance Foot & Ankle is straightforward — call (810) 206-1402 during business hours and our front desk team will find an appointment time that works for your schedule, verify your insurance coverage before the visit, and answer any preliminary questions you have about what to expect. Our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River has convenient parking and is easily accessible from I-96, M-59, and Grand River Avenue. Our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 is located on Woodward Avenue with parking adjacent to the building. Both locations are accessible by patients throughout Southeast Michigan, and our team looks forward to providing you with the professional, evidence-based podiatric care that you and your feet deserve.

Medical References & Sources

• American Podiatric Medical Association — Patient Education
• American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society — Foot Conditions

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

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.