Maura Higgins Resumes Dancing With the Stars Rehearsals After Neck Injury

Maura Higgins has returned to rehearsals for Dancing With the Stars after a worsening neck injury interrupted her performance on the competition show. The 35-year-old Love Island star resumed practice on Friday, according to the Daily Mail, following an on-camera medical incident that raised concerns about her ability to continue competing.

Higgins, who is partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas, has emerged as a potential contender for the season's title among fans. However, her ongoing neck pain has created a challenge as the competition progresses.

Footage broadcast during last Tuesday's episode showed Higgins performing a tango to Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)." During the routine, she grimaced, grabbed her neck and eventually fell to the floor, where medical personnel examined her.

Higgins had described the discomfort as an increasingly persistent problem before the incident became severe enough to interrupt her performance.

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

Despite the physical difficulties, Higgins and Ballas finished second on the leaderboard during Super Bowl Night. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised their performance, describing the routine as "thrilling from start to finish." He also called Higgins "supremely elegant."

The other two judges expressed similar approval of the performance. Higgins subsequently discussed her condition with the panel, explaining that the painful sensations had persisted for several weeks and acknowledging the assistance she received from the show's physiotherapist, Dr Gina Minchella.

Higgins credited Minchella with examining her neck and helping her manage the discomfort as she continued participating in the competition.

"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 said. "[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."

According to the Daily Mail, Higgins was seen arriving at the rehearsal studio on Friday wearing an all-black outfit and Alo trainers. Her return followed the televised incident in which medical personnel assessed her neck after the tango performance.