Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Quick Answer:
Quick Answer: Troy, Michigan — one of Oakland County’s largest and most affluent cities with over 80,000 residents — has access to Board-Certified podiatrist Dr. Tom Biernacki at Balance Foot & Ankle in Bloomfield Hills, approximately 12–15 miles southwest via Crooks Road, Rochester Road, or I-75. Troy’s professional and business community, active recreational culture, and significant sports programs at Troy High School and Troy Athens High School create substantial demand for sports injury care, plantar fasciitis treatment, and comprehensive foot care.
Troy Michigan’s Foot Doctor — Expert Oakland County Care
Troy is one of Michigan’s most affluent and successful suburban communities — home to over 80,000 residents, a major corporate and professional hub, and a highly active community with strong youth athletics programs and an engaged adult recreational sports culture. When Troy residents develop foot and ankle problems, Board-Certified podiatric care is available at Balance Foot & Ankle’s Bloomfield Hills office, approximately 12–15 miles southwest via Crooks Road or Rochester Road.
Active Community Foot Care for Troy Patients
Troy’s professionally accomplished and health-conscious population generates diverse podiatric needs. Business and corporate professionals benefit from efficient appointment management and in-office diagnostics that minimize schedule disruption. Youth athletes at Troy High School and Troy Athens compete in demanding sports programs and frequently require sports injury evaluation, ankle sprain treatment, and Sever’s disease management. Adult runners and cyclists using the Clinton River Trail and Sylvan Lake Road corridors develop overuse injuries that Dr. Biernacki manages with sports-specific expertise.
Troy’s large South Asian community — one of metro Detroit’s largest — creates specific demand for culturally sensitive foot care, diabetic foot management, and foot conditions associated with footwear styles common in the community.
Getting from Troy to Balance Foot & Ankle
From Troy, take Crooks Road south or Rochester Road south to our Bloomfield Hills office — approximately 20–25 minutes. Free parking is available. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Priority Health, Cigna, United Healthcare, Medicare, and most major insurance plans. Call (810) 588-0985 or schedule online at michiganfootdoctors.com.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Hoka Clifton 9 Running Shoe (Neutral Cushioned)
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Maximum cushion neutral daily trainer for Troy-area runners — the Clifton’s thick cushioning and moderate rocker geometry reduces plantar fascia and forefoot stress during high-mileage training on Troy’s road and trail courses.
Dr. Tom says: “My Bloomfield Hills foot doctor recommended the Clifton for my plantar fasciitis — the cushioning made my Clinton River Trail runs completely pain-free.”
Neutral runners, plantar fasciitis, high-mileage training, forefoot load reduction
Significant overpronators who need stability features or patients needing a motion control shoe
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Physix Gear Sports Compression Socks
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Graduated compression socks providing calf support and venous return assistance during extended standing and activity — beneficial for Troy’s professional community who stand or sit for extended periods at work.
Dr. Tom says: “These socks eliminated the afternoon calf and foot swelling I was getting from standing all day at my Troy-area job.”
Prolonged standing or sitting, travel-related edema, running recovery
Patients with significant peripheral arterial disease — compression may be contraindicated
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- 12–15 miles from Troy via Crooks Road — convenient Oakland County access from the north
- Youth sports podiatry for Troy High School and Troy Athens athletes
- Diabetic foot care for Troy’s medically sophisticated and diverse patient population
- Same-week appointments for Troy professional and family patients
❌ Cons / Risks
- 20–25 minute drive from Troy to Bloomfield Hills office
- No foot doctor currently within Troy city limits — Bloomfield Hills is the nearest Board-Certified option
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
Troy is one of our largest patient communities — a highly educated, health-conscious population that asks excellent clinical questions and follows treatment plans well. We see a lot of runners from Troy, a lot of youth athletes, and a significant number of patients managing diabetes who need comprehensive foot care. The 20-minute drive from Troy to Bloomfield Hills is a small investment for the level of specialized care we provide.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the foot doctor for Troy, Michigan?
Dr. Tom Biernacki at Balance Foot & Ankle in Bloomfield Hills is the preferred foot doctor for Troy, Michigan patients — approximately 12–15 miles southwest via Crooks Road. Call (810) 588-0985 or visit michiganfootdoctors.com to schedule.
Does the Troy foot doctor treat diabetic foot problems?
Yes. Comprehensive diabetic foot care including vascular assessment, nail debridement, wound prevention, and therapeutic footwear guidance is provided for Troy area patients. Medicare covers most diabetic foot care services for qualified patients.
What insurance does the Troy area foot doctor accept?
We accept most major insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Priority Health, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Call (810) 588-0985 to verify your specific coverage.
How quickly can Troy patients get an appointment?
New patient appointments from Troy are typically available within 5–7 business days. Urgent cases are accommodated within 24–48 hours. Call (810) 588-0985 to describe your concern and determine appropriate urgency.
Michigan Foot Pain? See Dr. Biernacki In Person
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Same-week appointments · Howell & Bloomfield Hills
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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.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a podiatrist?
See a podiatrist if: foot or ankle pain has lasted more than 2–4 weeks without improvement, you’re changing your gait to avoid pain, you have an open wound or sore that isn’t healing, you notice nail discoloration or thickening, you have diabetes and any foot concern, or pain is severe enough to wake you at night. Most foot conditions are easier and cheaper to treat early — what starts as a minor issue can become a surgical problem with months of delay.
What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon?
Podiatrists (DPM — Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) specialize exclusively in the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Orthopedic surgeons (MD/DO) have broader musculoskeletal training but variable foot/ankle subspecialization. For foot and ankle-specific problems, a podiatrist often has more focused training and experience. For injuries involving the leg above the ankle, complex pediatric cases, or multi-level reconstruction, orthopedic consultation may be appropriate. We frequently co-manage patients with orthopedic colleagues.
How do I know if my foot pain is serious?
Signs that warrant same-day or next-day evaluation: severe pain that appeared suddenly without clear cause, swelling, redness, and warmth that appeared suddenly (possible gout, infection, or Charcot fracture), an open wound that looks infected (redness spreading, pus, warmth), inability to bear weight, or any foot problem in a diabetic patient. Pain that’s been present for weeks and is stable is important but not an emergency — schedule within 1–2 weeks.
Can foot problems cause back and knee pain?
Yes — this is a kinetic chain effect. Abnormal foot mechanics (overpronation, supination, leg length discrepancy) cause compensatory changes in knee, hip, and lumbar alignment. Roughly 30% of patients presenting to our clinic with knee pain have a treatable foot-level biomechanical cause. Correcting foot mechanics with orthotics or appropriate footwear often provides significant knee and back relief. If you have chronic knee or back pain and haven’t had your foot mechanics evaluated, it’s worth a consult.
Are orthotics worth it?
For the right conditions, yes — custom orthotics are among the most cost-effective interventions in podiatry. They’re most effective for: plantar fasciitis, flat feet with secondary knee/back pain, leg length discrepancy, metatarsalgia, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and diabetic foot pressure management. Quality OTC orthotics ($35–60) resolve symptoms for 60% of patients with mild-to-moderate conditions. Custom orthotics are appropriate when OTC options have failed or when the biomechanical problem is complex. We cast custom orthotics in-office.
How do I choose the right running shoes?
Start with your foot type (flat, neutral, high arch) and running pattern (overpronator, neutral, supinator). Flat feet and overpronators do best in stability or motion-control shoes. Neutral feet do well in neutral-cushioned shoes. High arches need maximum cushioning with flexible soles. Always buy running shoes at the end of the day (foot swelling peaks then), get properly fitted by a specialist, and replace every 300–500 miles. If you’ve been injured repeatedly, a gait analysis can identify the mechanical flaw driving your injury pattern.
What is the difference between a sprain and a fracture?
A sprain is a ligament injury (the tissue connecting bones); a fracture is a break in the bone itself. Both can occur with the same trauma (ankle roll, fall). The old test — ‘if you can walk, it’s not broken’ — is wrong; many fractures are initially weight-bearable. Key differences: a fracture typically produces localized bone tenderness along the bone itself, while a sprain is tender over the ligament. X-ray is the standard to differentiate. High-grade sprains without proper treatment can be as disabling as fractures.
How do I prevent foot and ankle injuries?
The four most impactful prevention strategies: (1) Supportive, appropriately fitted footwear for your foot type and activity. (2) Gradual activity progression — the 10% rule (never increase weekly mileage or intensity by more than 10%). (3) Regular calf and ankle mobility work. (4) Strengthening the posterior tibial tendon, peroneals, and intrinsic foot muscles. Most overuse injuries are preventable; most acute injuries are not — but ankle sprain recurrence (60–70% without rehab) is prevented by balance and proprioception training.
Related Conditions
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)