Expert Foot and Ankle Care for Traverse City and Grand Traverse County

Traverse City and the Grand Traverse region are among Michigan’s most beautiful — and most active — communities. From the hiking trails of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to the ski slopes of Crystal Mountain and Sugar Loaf, from the wineries of the Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas to the stunning shoreline of West Grand Traverse Bay, northern Michigan demands a great deal from your feet.

When northern Michigan residents need subspecialty foot and ankle care that isn’t available locally, Balance Foot & Ankle’s Howell and Bloomfield Township offices provide a destination for board-certified podiatric surgical care with same-week scheduling and no hospital referral required.

Why Traverse City Residents Travel for Podiatric Care

While Traverse City has general podiatric practitioners, patients with complex conditions — advanced bunion deformity, Charcot foot reconstruction, ankle arthritis requiring joint replacement, Achilles tendon reconstruction — often seek subspecialty surgical expertise available at larger metro-area practices.

Dr. Tom Biernacki at Balance Foot & Ankle offers:

• Fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgical expertise
• MICA minimally invasive bunion correction — significantly faster recovery than traditional approaches
• Complex flatfoot reconstruction for adult acquired flatfoot (PTTD)
• Ankle arthroscopy and osteochondral lesion repair
• Comprehensive diabetic foot management and wound care
• Custom orthotics designed and fabricated in-house

Conditions Common in the Grand Traverse Active Population

Ski and Snowboard Injuries

Crystal Mountain, Sugar Loaf, and the Boyne resorts send their share of foot and ankle injuries south each winter. Ankle fractures, ski boot-related nerve compression, and snowboarder’s ankle (lateral process talus fractures) require expert evaluation and often surgical care not available at local urgent care facilities.

Trail Running and Hiking Injuries

The North Country Trail, Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, and the peninsula’s extensive off-road trail systems attract serious trail runners and hikers year-round. Stress fractures, ankle sprains with ligamentous instability, and plantar fasciitis are among the most common reasons northern Michigan athletes seek our care.

Cycling Foot Pain

The TART Trail, Michigan cycling routes, and the growing gravel cycling community around Traverse City create unique foot issues — hot spots, numbness, and metatarsalgia from improper cleat positioning are common cycling complaints we address.

Vineyard and Winery Work

The peninsula’s agricultural economy means significant foot stress from vineyard and farm workers who stand and walk on uneven terrain for long hours. Plantar fasciitis, heel fat pad syndrome, and stress fractures are occupational realities we manage regularly.

Planning Your Visit from Traverse City

The drive from Traverse City to our Howell office is approximately 2.5–3 hours via US-131 South and I-96 East, or alternatively via US-131 to US-131 Business through downtown Michigan communities. Many Traverse City patients combine a medical visit with shopping or dining in the Howell area or Detroit metro.

We accommodate northern Michigan patients by:

• Scheduling all necessary imaging (X-ray in-office, MRI referral) at or around the first visit to minimize return trips
• Providing thorough telemedicine follow-up for post-operative wound checks and non-urgent follow-ups
• Coordinating with local Traverse City providers for physical therapy and local wound care
• Providing detailed written care instructions so northern Michigan patients can manage between visits

Insurance and Scheduling

We accept most major Michigan insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Priority Health (common among Grand Traverse County residents), Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Our team confirms benefits before your visit. To schedule, call our office or use the online booking portal — most new patients are seen within one week.

Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.

Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI

📅 Book Online
📞 (810) 206-1402

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.