Top 10 Dancing with the Stars Routines Where They Shockingly Danced Through Injury

Unfortunately for the Science Guy, audiences quickly learned he wasn’t much of a dancing guy. During his week two Paso Doble with partner Tyne Stecklein, we see him slip and fall to the ground. Later, it was revealed that he had partially torn his left quad tendon. Despite the doctor’s orders, Nye valiantly took to the stage the following week, incorporating his injury into a jazz routine. Admirably pushing through the pain, his determination shines brightly, even if his moves are a little, well, robotic. Even the judges had to praise his efforts even if they thought the dance wasn’t great. The audience seemingly had less sympathy, eliminating him that week.

Picture this: You’re on the brink of the semi-finals, and the mirrorball is starting to feel within reach— but suddenly, a leg injury jeopardizes your entire “DWTS” journey. That was the harsh reality for “Karate Kid” actor Ralph Macchio, who endured a knee cyst rupture before the week eight double dance night where he performed a Viennese Waltz and Cha-cha-cha. Due to the injury, they reportedly only got in about nine hours of rehearsal time. There was also the added challenge of “Instant Dance Week,” which meant preparing choreography without knowing exactly what song they’d be dancing to. While their scores suffered slightly, they beat the odds to dance another week.

In a nail-biting moment before the Halloween episode, season 25 front-runner Lindsey Stirling faced a terrifying setback. She had displaced a rib during the previous week’s dress rehearsal, casting uncertainty over her future in the competition. Tearful and in pain, she feared it could be the end of her journey. Yet, with partner Mark Ballas, she defied all the odds, delivering a spellbinding Paso Doble brimming with drama and power. Ballas didn’t exactly hold back on the choreography either! We were astounded by her performance, as were the judges who scored her nines across the board. Still, we believe she deserved an extra point for pulling off such an awe-inspiring feat.

During rehearsals for their “Latin Night” routine, the actress mentioned that she had injured her ribs while practicing a lift for their contemporary routine a few weeks earlier. The strain seemingly had taken its toll, and during their salsa rehearsal, she heard a snap—later discovering she had a fracture. Despite the pain, the actress and her dance partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, decided to perform. They delivered a fiery salsa full of speed, sass, and, given the circumstances, some impressive moves. Her rhythm, flair, and determination to put on a show are incredibly impressive too. Even with a fractured rib, she continued her streak as one of the contest’s strongest performers.

Another Halloween number that took a spine-chilling turn, Lauren Alaina and her partner Gleb Savchenko mesmerized the audience with their Argentine Tango—a dance demanding precision and sharp attack. Their near-flawless execution, coupled with a sultry and entrancing routine, set the dance floor ablaze. So imagine our surprise when the singer revealed she had broken a rib weeks earlier and injured at least three others since. They wowed the judges, earning a commendable score of 27 out of 30; Carrie Ann Inaba even praised her core strength. Given all she had overcome, this performance was a delightful treat for everyone watching.

Despite its typically slow tempo, the deceptively tricky rumba features some movements that can feel unnatural to a non-dancer. Indeed, during their sensual and stunning routine, Purdy apparently maneuvered her body incorrectly, resulting in severe back pain. As they rehearsed for their Argentine Tango the following week, it seemed dubious whether the para-snowboarder could get through the dance. But if we didn’t know, we never could’ve guessed that she’d been through a world of pain. Their dance is fierce and flawless and rightfully earned them a perfect score. Purdy also shared that before their salsa, the toes on her prosthetic legs had broken, and she was also dancing through a rib injury.

In week 7, the actor and his partner Cheryl Burke brought the sizzle of Carnival to the “DWTS” floor with a scorching samba. However, de la Fuente sparked concern when he suddenly stopped and grabbed his arm. Although the trouper tried to push on, eventually, it became clear that they had to stop. De la Fuente believed he’d had a bad muscle cramp, and Tom Bergeron called for a commercial break so that he could get treatment. After receiving their scores, de la Fuente was reportedly taken to hospital and later underwent surgery for a tendon tear in his left bicep. After some rest, he returned to the ballroom, securing a respectable third place overall.

The TV host dubbed herself the “Broken Dancer” after suffering multiple injuries during her time in the competition. But even after broken ribs, a foot fracture, and a chin injury, this tenacious TV host made it to the semi-finals. She had seriously injured her ribs before the season’s premiere but kept it quiet, not wanting to be seen as “that couple coming out of the gate.” She even made light of her injuries, joking that they might give her an advantage in the competition. Still, imagine dancing the Quickstep with broken ribs— the jumping and speed are enough to make anyone wince at the thought. We hope the scores were worth it!

In showbiz, the mantra “The show must go on” is sacred, but sometimes, like in this case, it’s alright to hit pause and seek immediate medical attention. Picture this: the Jitterbug, a dance bursting with lively moves and high-energy kicks and tricks. Now, imagine performing it through excruciating abdominal pain. That’s exactly what happened to dancer Julianne Hough when she was paired with actor Cody Linley. Shortly after their encore performance of the routine, Hough was taken to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with Endometriosis and underwent appendix removal. Yet she was determined to be back by Linely’s side the following week. We have to admire her resilience.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Nancy McKeon, Season 27
The Former “Facts of Life” Star Cha-Cha-Cha’d Her Way through Her NYC-Themed Routine on a Fractured Foot

Katherine Jenkins, Season 14
Her Back Injury in the Semi-finals Didn’t Stop Her from Fighting for the Mirrorball in the Finals

Kaitlyn Bristowe, Season 29
An Ankle Injury Left “The Bachelorette” star’s “DWTS” Journey Hanging in the Balance, but She Pushed Through Anyway

Jodie Sweetin, Season 22
Even a Foot Injury and Doctor’s Orders to Rest Up Couldn’t Keep This Actress off the Dance Floor

Holly Madison, Season 8
After Replacing Singer Jewel, Who Withdrew Due to Injury, the TV Personality Faced a Rib Injury Ahead of Her Samba

Imagine you’ve reached the grand finale of “Dancing with the Stars,” the coveted mirrorball trophy almost within reach. But then disaster strikes—a disc ruptures in your lower back. Still, Grey insisted on fighting until the very end. Across two intense nights, Grey and partner Derek Hough showcased their talents in a Paso Doble, Viennese Waltz, a Cha-cha-cha relay, and a Freestyle. With a doctor on standby, offering medical aid and checkups between dances, Grey pushed on. Viewers rallied behind her, leading to her victory. Reflecting on the experience, Grey told ABC News, “Pain fades away, but this experience will stay with me forever.”

Could you have kept going with any of these injuries? Let us know in the comments.