Reality television personality Maura Higgins returned to the Dancing With the Stars rehearsal studio on Friday, October 16, days after a painful neck injury caused her to collapse during practice. The 35-year-old former Love Island contestant resumed training alongside professional partner Mark Ballas ahead of the Season 35 "Dedication Night" broadcast on Tuesday, October 20. Despite weeks of worsening neck spasms that required on-set medical attention, Higgins pushed through the discomfort to remain in the competition and perform her scheduled routine.

The health scare initially sparked concern among viewers after behind-the-scenes footage aired during the show's October 13 "Super Bowl Night" episode. In the broadcast package, Higgins was seen grabbing her neck and falling to the studio floor in tears while practicing a tango, prompting immediate intervention from production medics. Her return to the studio just four days before the next live show signaled her determination to stay in the running for the Mirrorball Trophy, culminating in her live performance on Tuesday night.

Inside the Rehearsal Collapse and Super Bowl Night

The extent of the physical strain became public during the October 13 broadcast, which featured the 11 remaining couples performing routines inspired by memorable Super Bowl halftime shows. While preparing a tango set to Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)," Higgins experienced a sharp spasm. According to Wide Open Country, she grimaced in pain, yelled out, and dropped to the floor squirming as medical personnel stepped in to examine her.

"I've been having this like twinge in the left side of my neck," Higgins said to the cameras during the rehearsal segment. "I genuinely feel like it's getting worse."

Despite the distressing rehearsal footage, Higgins and Ballas took the ballroom floor for the live broadcast that evening. As reported by Primetimer, the duo delivered a composed performance that earned 33 out of 40 points from the judging panel, which included regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, alongside guest judge Joe Buck. Tonioli praised the routine as "thrilling from start to finish" and called Higgins "supremely elegant."

Following the routine, Higgins addressed the panel regarding her physical condition, noting that the issue had been building up over several weeks of competition. She specifically credited the production's physiotherapist, Dr. Gina Minchella, for helping her make it to the live show.

"My neck is—you know, it's been playing up for weeks and it just seems to be getting worse, but good on Gina," Higgins told the judges, as quoted by Wide Open Country. "[She] took a look at me. Her and her magic hands. But yeah, I'm just trying to do my stretches and trying to take care of it, but yeah, it's just something that I'm gonna have to deal with."

Season 35 Leaderboard Context

Higgins' ability to perform through pain kept her near the top of a tightly contested Season 35 field. Her score of 33 out of 40 on Super Bowl Night placed her in a tie with actress Julia Stiles and professional partner Ezra Sosa, who performed a jazz routine to Jennifer Lopez's "Jenny From the Block" remix.

According to Primetimer, the evening's highest marks went to actress Jenna Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy, who earned four 9s for a total of 36 out of 40 points with a paso doble to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." Figure skater Amber Glenn and partner Pasha Pashkov secured 34 out of 40 points for their samba to J Balvin and Willy William's "Mi Gente." Other competitors trailing Higgins included Jackson Olson and Emma Slater with 31 points, Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess with 30 points, and Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik with 29 points.

Return to Training and Dedication Night Performance

In the days following Super Bowl Night, contrasting narratives emerged regarding Higgins' immediate future on the series. While The Irish Sun highlighted ongoing concerns over exhaustion and a neck issue that had been worsening for weeks without a confirmed medical clearance, The Sun and Wide Open Country noted that Higgins was photographed arriving at the rehearsal studio on Friday, October 16, wearing an all-black athletic outfit and Alo trainers.

Her return to the studio allowed the pair to prepare for the October 20 "Dedication Night" episode, a themed broadcast in which celebrity contestants honor significant people or places in their lives. According to VIP Magazine, the Longford native chose to dedicate her Week 6 performance to the people of Ireland.

Live coverage from the Detroit Free Press confirmed that Higgins and Ballas successfully competed on Tuesday night, performing an energetic paso doble set to the Dropkick Murphys' track "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." While her appearance on the live broadcast answered viewer questions about whether the injury would force an early withdrawal, neither Higgins nor the network has indicated that the underlying neck condition is fully healed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Maura Higgins receive a formal medical diagnosis or clearance?

No official medical diagnosis or formal clinical clearance has been publicly released by Higgins or ABC. While she was examined by on-set medics after collapsing in rehearsals and received treatment from show physiotherapist Dr. Gina Minchella, public updates have been limited to Higgins' own descriptions of a worsening "twinge" on the left side of her neck.

What treatment plan is Higgins using to stay in the competition?

Higgins stated during the October 13 broadcast that she is relying on manual therapy from the show's physiotherapist along with a consistent regimen of stretching to manage the discomfort between rehearsals and live shows.

Did the neck injury keep her out of the October 20 Dedication Night episode?

No. After returning to the rehearsal studio on October 16, Higgins competed live on Tuesday, October 20, performing a paso doble with partner Mark Ballas dedicated to her home country of Ireland.

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