Ballroom dancer Mark Ballas suffered lower back injuries during a weekend rehearsal with partner and Olympic gymnast Alexandra Raisman. Ballas was not sure if he was going to be able to compete Monday night and had Aly practice with Henry Byalikov.
Byalikov is a troupe member on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" and was a contestant on the Australia version of "So You Think You Can Dance".
During the episode Ballas went to see a spine doctor at Cedars-Sanai Spine Center where he got the news that he had sprained his back or suffered a disk injury.
On his official blog, Ballas wrote: "While trying a lift, I compressed two discs in my lower back and could hardly move for two days. The timing couldn't be worse... I got my MRI results back and there is no damage to my spine or nerves, and the pain I am enduring is only muscular. The muscles are spasming and will take a few days (or weeks) to calm down."
Ballas pulled through for the Monday night Latin-themed performance, ending the evening with the highest score of 32 out of 33 points. The judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba praised Ballas and Raisman for their fun and energetic salsa with Bruno stating that it was a "tutti-frutti delicious cocktail."
After Monday night's performance Ballas tweeted that his back was hurting but he was looking forward to performing with his band. Fans tweeted get better and well wishes to the dancer.
The remaining couples are Kellie and Derek, Aly and Mark, Zendaya and Val, Jacoby and Karina, Sean and Peta, Ingo and Kym and Andy and Sharna. Kellie and Derek were granted immunity and cannot be voted off Tuesday night.
