Danielle Fishel suffers hamstring tear on Dancing with the Stars; doctors warn of potential long-term effects

Danielle Fishel, the 44-year-old actor best known for Boy Meets World, sustained a right hamstring tear while rehearsing for Dancing with the Stars. The injury occurred less than two weeks after she joined the competition, and Fishel still appeared in Week 2, delivering a Cha Cha that earned 19 of 30 points, with bruising hidden by makeup.

Photos shared by Fishel show deep purple bruising running up the back of her right leg, from the knee crease to the upper thigh. The incident has prompted medical cautions about hamstring injuries and the potential for long-term complications if not managed properly. Dr Castel Santana, a general physician and regional medical director at 10X Health, told the Daily Mail that incomplete or rushed recovery can lead to chronic hamstring tendinopathy, a condition that can cause pain, stiffness and weakness that make walking or running difficult.

“The key is progressive rehabilitation rather than rushing back to full performance,” Santana said. He noted that proper physical therapy—strengthening, mobility work, and activation of the core and glutes—helps stabilize the hamstring and reduce the risk of reinjury. In the immediate aftermath, Fishel met with a physician to assess whether surgery would be necessary. Surgery for hamstring tears is typically reserved for complete tears or cases in which conservative treatment fails and symptoms remain debilitating. The doctors determined she did not need an operation, but the plan calls for a careful rehabilitation program modeled on the experts’ guidance.

To ease the burden on the injured leg, Fishel’s dance partner, Pasha Pashkov, said he would choreograph their next routine to place less load on her right leg. Still, she has indicated she intends to continue competing as the show progresses. In a video posted to Instagram, she said, “I was only going to leave here because of an injury if they brought me out on a stretcher.”

Beyond the immediate injury, the story highlights the pressures on athletes and performers who push through pain to stay in a high-visibility competition. Fishel, who shares two sons, Adler, six, and Keaton, four, with husband Jensen Karp, has told reporters in other interviews that she previously faced a breast cancer diagnosis last year, undergoing surgery followed by radiation and later being declared cancer-free. Her ongoing fight to balance health and career underscores the broader health considerations that can accompany a public recovery.

Medical experts emphasize that hamstring injuries often occur during rapid accelerations, decelerations, or forcesful stretching—movements common to both sports and dance. Dr Cas, as he is commonly called, noted that predisposing factors can include muscle imbalances such as tight hip flexors and weak glutes, fatigue, dehydration, or nutrient deficiencies that diminish muscle resilience. He said that recovering athletes should focus on gradual loading and balanced conditioning rather than attempting to return to full training too soon. The combination of rest, targeted rehabilitation, and controlled reintroduction to movement is essential to minimizing long-term pain, movement limitations, or immobility.

Experts also discussed adjunct recovery strategies. Dr Johnny Parvani, an emergency medicine physician and founder of IV company Reviv Global, highlighted several techniques that may aid healing in the days and weeks after an injury. He suggested cold therapy, such as ice packs or cold plunges in the acute phase, to reduce inflammation. After this initial period, he noted, applying warmth and utilizing therapies like red light or pulsed electromagnetic field therapy can help promote blood flow and tissue healing. He cautioned that the tissues remain vulnerable during the early phase and that adequate rest and recovery are critical to avoid aggravating the injury.

The episode also prompts reflection on the broader risks associated with demanding performances in midlife. While Fishel has previously articulated ambitious physical goals, including training intensely to transform her body, medical professionals remind that the focus should remain on safe, graded recovery and sustainable performance. In addition to her on-screen work, Fishel has described a long history of public health and personal resilience, including her cancer battle, which she has overcome in recent years.

As the season progresses, observers will watch not only Fishel’s competitive arc but also how the team manages her rehabilitation. The partnership with Pashkov and the decision to adjust the choreography may help reduce strain on the injured leg while still giving viewers a chance to see Fishel perform. The incident underscores the physical toll that high-profile dance competition can exert, and the careful medical oversight required to protect athletes from long-term damage while remaining in the spotlight.