Version 2024
No Valid Principal Dx

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R26.2

Difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Code:
R26.2
ICD-10 Code for:
Difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
    (R00–R99)
    • Symptoms and signs involving the nervous and musculoskeletal systems
      (R25-R29)
      • Abnormalities of gait and mobility
        (R26)

R26.2 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

According to ICD-10-CM guidelines this code should not to be used as a principal diagnosis code when a related definitive diagnosis has been established.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Dependent for walking
  • Deterioration in ability to walk
  • Deterioration in ability to walk up stairs
  • Difficulty in starting and stopping walking spontaneously
  • Difficulty in stopping walking
  • Difficulty in walking backward pulling large toy
  • Difficulty in walking carrying large toy
  • Difficulty initiating walking
  • Difficulty managing stairs
  • Difficulty managing stairs
  • Difficulty managing steps
  • Difficulty managing steps
  • Difficulty managing steps and stairs
  • Difficulty managing steps and stairs
  • Difficulty managing steps and stairs
  • Difficulty managing steps and stairs
  • Difficulty walking
  • Difficulty walking down a slope
  • Difficulty walking down hill
  • Difficulty walking down stairs
  • Difficulty walking down step
  • Difficulty walking heel to toe
  • Difficulty walking in corridor
  • Difficulty walking in room
  • Difficulty walking on a narrow line
  • Difficulty walking on the flat
  • Difficulty walking on uneven surface
  • Difficulty walking up a slope
  • Difficulty walking up hill
  • Difficulty walking up stairs
  • Difficulty walking up step
  • Does not initiate walking
  • Does not manage stairs
  • Does not manage stairs
  • Does not manage steps
  • Does not manage steps
  • Does not manage steps and stairs
  • Does not manage steps and stairs
  • Does not manage steps and stairs
  • Does not manage steps and stairs
  • Does not start and stop walking spontaneously
  • Does not stop walking
  • Does not walk
  • Does not walk backward pulling large toy
  • Does not walk carrying large toy
  • Does not walk down a slope
  • Does not walk down hill
  • Does not walk down stairs
  • Does not walk down step
  • Does not walk heel to toe
  • Does not walk in corridor
  • Does not walk in room
  • Does not walk on a narrow line
  • Does not walk on the flat
  • Does not walk on uneven surface
  • Does not walk up a slope
  • Does not walk up hill
  • Does not walk up stairs
  • Does not walk up step
  • Finding of body control
  • Finding of musculoskeletal measures
  • Finding related to ability to initiate walking
  • Finding related to ability to initiate walking
  • Finding related to ability to initiate walking
  • Finding related to ability to start and stop walking spontaneously
  • Finding related to ability to start and stop walking spontaneously
  • Finding related to ability to start and stop walking spontaneously
  • Finding related to ability to stop walking
  • Finding related to ability to stop walking
  • Finding related to ability to stop walking
  • Finding related to ability to walk backward pulling large toy
  • Finding related to ability to walk backward pulling large toy
  • Finding related to ability to walk backward pulling large toy
  • Finding related to ability to walk carrying large toy
  • Finding related to ability to walk carrying large toy
  • Finding related to ability to walk carrying large toy
  • Finding related to ability to walk down a slope
  • Finding related to ability to walk down a slope
  • Finding related to ability to walk down a slope
  • Finding related to ability to walk down hill
  • Finding related to ability to walk down hill
  • Finding related to ability to walk down hill
  • Finding related to ability to walk down stairs
  • Finding related to ability to walk down stairs
  • Finding related to ability to walk down stairs
  • Finding related to ability to walk down step
  • Finding related to ability to walk down step
  • Finding related to ability to walk down step
  • Finding related to ability to walk heel to toe
  • Finding related to ability to walk heel to toe
  • Finding related to ability to walk heel to toe
  • Finding related to ability to walk on a narrow line
  • Finding related to ability to walk on a narrow line
  • Finding related to ability to walk on a narrow line
  • Finding related to ability to walk up a slope
  • Finding related to ability to walk up a slope
  • Finding related to ability to walk up a slope
  • Finding related to ability to walk up hill
  • Finding related to ability to walk up hill
  • Finding related to ability to walk up hill
  • Finding related to ability to walk up stairs
  • Finding related to ability to walk up stairs
  • Finding related to ability to walk up stairs
  • Finding related to ability to walk up step
  • Finding related to ability to walk up step
  • Finding related to ability to walk up step
  • General difficulty in moving
  • General difficulty in moving
  • Has gone off legs
  • Loss of control of walking
  • Slow on legs
  • Stick only for walking
  • Tripod/quadrupod: walking
  • Unable to initiate walking
  • Unable to manage stairs
  • Unable to manage steps
  • Unable to manage steps
  • Unable to manage steps and stairs
  • Unable to manage steps and stairs
  • Unable to manage steps and stairs
  • Unable to start and stop walking spontaneously
  • Unable to stop walking
  • Unable to walk
  • Unable to walk backward pulling large toy
  • Unable to walk carrying large toy
  • Unable to walk down a slope
  • Unable to walk down hill
  • Unable to walk down stairs
  • Unable to walk down step
  • Unable to walk heel to toe
  • Unable to walk in corridor
  • Unable to walk in room
  • Unable to walk on a narrow line
  • Unable to walk on the flat
  • Unable to walk on uneven surface
  • Unable to walk up a slope
  • Unable to walk up hill
  • Unable to walk up step
  • Uses zimmer frame
  • Walking aid use - finding
  • Walking aid use - finding
  • Walking aid use - finding
  • Walking difficulty due to ankle and foot
  • Walking difficulty due to lower leg
  • Walking difficulty due to multiple sites
  • Walking difficulty due to pelvic region and thigh
  • Walking disability
  • Walking distance - finding
  • Walking distance reduced

Clinical Classification

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Convert R26.2 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 719.7 - Difficulty in walking

Patient Education


Walking Problems

What are walking problems?

If you are like most people, you walk thousands of steps each day. You walk to do your daily activities, get around, and exercise. It's something that you usually don't think about. But for those people who have a problem with walking, daily life can be more difficult.

Walking problems may cause you to:

  • Walk with your head and neck bent over
  • Drag, drop, or shuffle your feet
  • Have irregular, jerky movements when walking
  • Take smaller steps
  • Waddle
  • Walk more slowly or stiffly

What causes walking problems?

The pattern of how you walk is called your gait. Many different diseases and conditions can affect your gait and lead to problems with walking. They include:

  • Abnormal development of the muscles or bones of your legs or feet
  • Arthritis of the hips, knees, ankles, or feet
  • Cerebellar disorders, which are disorders of the area of the brain that controls coordination and balance
  • Foot problems, including corns and calluses, sores, and warts
  • Infections
  • Injuries, such as fractures (broken bones), sprains, and tendinitis
  • Movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease
  • Neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis and peripheral nerve disorders
  • Vision problems

How is the cause of a walking problem diagnosed?

To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. This will include checking your bones and muscles and doing a neurological exam. In some cases, you may have other tests, such as lab or imaging tests.

What are the treatments for walking problems?

Treatment of walking problems depends on the cause. Some common types of treatments include:

  • Medicines
  • Mobility aids
  • Physical therapy
  • Surgery

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.