Understanding Impaired Mobility: Find information on diagnosing and documenting impaired mobility for accurate medical coding and clinical care. Explore resources related to mobility limitations, functional limitations, activity limitations, gait disorders, balance problems, ambulation assistive devices, ICD-10 codes for impaired mobility, physical therapy interventions, and occupational therapy assessments for patients with restricted mobility. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for impaired physical mobility and improve your healthcare documentation practices.
Also known as
Abnormalities of gait and mobility
Covers various impairments affecting walking and movement.
Diseases of joints
Joint conditions like arthritis can significantly impair mobility.
Disorders of muscles
Muscle diseases and injuries can restrict movement and function.
Cerebral palsy and other paralytic syndromes
Neurological conditions often leading to impaired motor function.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the impaired mobility due to a neurological condition?
Yes
Is it due to hemiplegia/hemiparesis?
No
Is it due to a musculoskeletal condition?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Impaired Mobility |
| Deconditioning |
| Osteoarthritis |
Coding with unspecified codes (e.g., R26.9) when more specific documentation exists, leading to inaccurate severity and reimbursement.
Incorrectly coding conditions causing impaired mobility (e.g., stroke) as separate diagnoses, potentially inflating Case Mix Index (CMI).
Insufficient documentation of functional limitations associated with impaired mobility impacting medical necessity for services like PT/OT.
Patient presents with impaired mobility, characterized by limitations in physical movement and ambulation. Assessment reveals [specify type of impairment: e.g., reduced range of motion, muscle weakness, balance deficits, gait abnormality, pain with movement]. Onset of impairment reported as [specify onset: e.g., gradual, sudden] and related to [specify underlying cause: e.g., osteoarthritis, cerebrovascular accident, Parkinson's disease, post-surgical complications, deconditioning, fall]. Patient reports difficulty with [specify functional limitations: e.g., transfers, bed mobility, walking, activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, toileting]. Pain level reported as [specify pain scale and level]. Current mobility aids include [list assistive devices: e.g., walker, cane, wheelchair]. Physical examination findings include [document objective findings: e.g., decreased muscle strength grade 35 right lower extremity, limited hip flexion to 90 degrees, antalgic gait]. Diagnosis of impaired physical mobility is confirmed. Plan of care includes [specify interventions: e.g., physical therapy referral for gait training and strengthening exercises, occupational therapy referral for adaptive equipment and ADL training, pain management with [specify medication or modality], fall risk assessment and prevention education]. Patient education provided regarding mobility limitations, assistive devices, and home safety. Follow-up scheduled in [specify timeframe] to assess progress and modify treatment plan as needed. ICD-10 code [specify applicable code: e.g., R26.2 Difficulty in walking, R26.8 Other lack of coordination] and CPT codes [specify applicable codes: e.g., 97110 therapeutic exercise, 97530 therapeutic activities] documented for medical billing and coding purposes. Functional status and mobility limitations impacting activities of daily living are documented to support medical necessity for skilled interventions.