2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R26.2Difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R25-R29›R26

ICD-10-CM R26.2
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R26.2 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 555 through 556. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Nervous system signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R26.2
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified
Short Description
Difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R26
Abnormalities of gait and mobility

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR25-R29Symptoms and signs involving the nervous and musculoskeletal systems
CategoryR26Abnormalities of gait and mobility
This CodeR26.2Difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this 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 steps
  • 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 steps
  • 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 start and stop walking spontaneously
  • Finding related to ability to stop walking
  • 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 down a slope
  • Finding related to ability to walk down hill
  • Finding related to ability to walk down stairs
  • Finding related to ability to walk down step
  • 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 up a slope
  • Finding related to ability to walk up hill
  • Finding related to ability to walk up stairs
  • Finding related to ability to walk up step
  • General difficulty in moving
  • Has gone off legs
  • Loss of control of walking
  • Needs help with 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 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 disability
  • Walking distance - finding
  • Walking distance reduced

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R26.2: its own notes plus those printed at R26 and Chapter 18. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

On R26.2 itself
From R26 Abnormalities of gait and mobility applies to 6 codes
  • ataxia NOS (R27.0)
  • hereditary ataxia (G11.-)
  • locomotor (syphilitic) ataxia (A52.11)
  • immobility syndrome (paraplegic) (M62.3)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

On R26.2 itself
From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
  • Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
  • The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
  • (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
  • (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
  • (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
  • (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
  • (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
  • (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name R26.2, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming R26.2: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • F82 Specific developmental disorder of motor function
    abnormalities of gait and mobility (R26.-) names R26.-, which includes this code

Excludes2 2

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming R26.2: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • M25 Other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified
    difficulty in walking (R26.2)
  • M25 Other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified
    abnormality of gait and mobility (R26.-) names R26.-, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR SYM010
Nervous system signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

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.

The full article covers:

  • What are walking problems?
  • What causes walking problems?
  • How is the cause of a walking problem diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for walking problems?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert R26.2 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
719.7 Difficulty in walking
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R26.2Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified?

The ICD-10-CM code for difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified is R26.2 (sometimes written as R262). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is R26.2 (Abnormalities of gait and mobility) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does R26.2 group to?

When difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 555, 556, with relative weights from 0.8210 to 1.2908 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R26.2 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the difficulty in walking, not elsewhere classified is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

Can R26.2 be reported with R29.6?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on R26.2 lists "falling (R29.6)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).