2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code W21Striking against or struck by sports equipment
W21 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for striking against or struck by sports equipment, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as W21.00XA, W21.00XD, W21.00XS, and W21.01XA.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Specific Coding for Striking against or struck by sports equipmentOverview
Non-specific codes like W21 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:
W21.0 for Struck by hit or thrown ball
W21.00 for Struck by hit or thrown ball, unspecified type
W21.01 for Struck by football
W21.02 for Struck by soccer ball
W21.03 for Struck by baseball
W21.04 for Struck by golf ball
W21.05 for Struck by basketball
W21.06 for Struck by volleyball
W21.07 for Struck by softball
W21.09 for Struck by other hit or thrown ball
W21.1 for Struck by bat, racquet or club
W21.11 for Struck by baseball bat
W21.12 for Struck by tennis racquet
W21.13 for Struck by golf club
W21.19 for Struck by other bat, racquet or club
W21.2 for Struck by hockey stick or puck
W21.21 for Struck by hockey stick
W21.22 for Struck by hockey puck
W21.3 for Struck by sports foot wear
W21.31 for Struck by shoe cleats
W21.32 for Struck by skate blades
W21.39 for Struck by other sports foot wear
W21.4 for Striking against diving board
W21.8 for Striking against or struck by other sports equipment
W21.81 for Striking against or struck by football helmet
W21.89 for Striking against or struck by other sports equipment
W21.9 for Striking against or struck by unspecified sports equipment
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Type 1 Excludes
- assault with sports equipment Y08.0
- striking against or struck by sports equipment with subsequent fall W18.01
7th Character Note
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W21
7th Character
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
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.
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
Patient EducationClinical
Sports Injuries
Exercising is good for you, but sometimes you can injure yourself when you play sports or exercise. Accidents, poor training practices, or improper gear can cause them. Some people get hurt because they are not in shape. Not warming up or stretching enough can also lead to injuries.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About W21Overview
Is W21 (Striking against or struck by sports equipment) a billable code?
No. This is a category header that groups the codes for striking against or struck by sports equipment, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for striking against or struck by sports equipment need a more specific code from this category, such as W21.00XA, W21.00XD, and W21.00XS.
