Taking time off from dance is often inevitable when injury strikes. But receiving a misdiagnosis—and the wrong type of treatment—can prolong your recovery. “A lot of doctors practice where they’ll only see one or two dancers a year,” says Dr. William Hamilton, a New York­–based orthopedic surgeon specializing in dance medicine. Since most medical professionals […]

How could I get a bone bruise from wearing a boot for a stress fracture in my fifth metatarsal? It’s taking forever to go away, and I can’t dance full-out. Help! —Anonymous, New York, NY A metatarsal injury like yours (aka the “dancer’s fracture”) typically needs six to eight weeks to heal in a short […]