As used in this article 215, unless the context
otherwise requires:
(1) Acupuncture means the puncture of the skin with fine needles for
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
(2) (a) Animal chiropractic means diagnosing and treating animal vertebral
subluxation through chiropractic adjustment of the spine or extremity articulations
of fully awake dogs and equids. The chiropractic adjustment may be performed only
with the hands or with the use of a handheld low-force mechanical adjusting device
functionally equivalent to the device known as an activator; all other equipment is
prohibited.
(b) Animal chiropractic does not include:
(I) Performing veterinary medical care and diagnosis;
(II) Performing surgery;
(III) Dispensing or administering medications, dietary or nutritional
supplements, herbs, essences, nutraceutical products, or anything else supplied
orally, rectally, by inhalation, by injection, or topically except topically applied heat
or cold;
(IV) Generating radiographic images or performing imaging procedures,
including thermography;
(V) Performing acupuncture, or any treatment activity other than
chiropractic adjustment;
(VI) Providing magnetic or other nonmanual treatment techniques, colonics,
colored-light therapy, homeopathy, radionics, or vitamin therapy;
(VII) Venipuncture;
(VIII) Making diagnoses by methods such as live cell analysis, pendulum
divining, iridology, hair analysis, nutritional deficiency questionnaires, herbal
crystallization analysis, or food allergy testing.
(3) Animal vertebral subluxation means a lesion or dysfunction in a joint or
motion segment in which alignment, movement integrity, or physiological function
are altered, although contact between joint surfaces remains intact, that may
influence biomechanical and neural integrity. Diagnosis of animal vertebral
subluxation typically involves evaluation of gait and radiographs, and static and
motion palpation techniques that are used to identify joint dysfunction. Diagnosis of
animal vertebral subluxation does not include methods such as applied kinesiology,
reflexology, pendulum divining, or thermography.
(3.5) Board means the Colorado state board of chiropractic examiners
created in section 12-215-104 (1).
(4) Chiropractic means that branch of the healing arts that is based on the
premise that disease is attributable to the abnormal functioning of the human
nervous system. It includes the diagnosing and analyzing of human ailments and
seeks the elimination of the abnormal functioning of the human nervous system by
the adjustment or manipulation, by hand or instrument, of the articulations and
adjacent tissue of the human body, particularly the spinal column, and the use as
indicated of procedures that facilitate the adjustment or manipulation and make it
more effective and the use of sanitary, hygienic, nutritional, and physical remedial
measures for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health, the prevention
of disease, and the treatment of human ailments. Chiropractic includes the use of
venipuncture for diagnostic purposes. Chiropractic does not include colonic
irrigation therapy. Chiropractic includes treatment by acupuncture when
performed by an appropriately trained chiropractor as determined by the Colorado
state board of chiropractic examiners. Nothing in this section shall apply to persons
using acupuncture not licensed by the board.
(5) Chiropractic adjustment means the application, by hand, by a trained
chiropractor who has fulfilled the educational and licensing requirements of this
article 215, of adjustive force to correct subluxations, fixations, structural
distortions, abnormal tensions, and disrelated structures, or to remove interference
with the transmission of nerve force. The application of the dynamic adjustive
thrust is designed and intended to produce and usually elicits audible and
perceptible release of tensions and movement of tissues or anatomical parts for the
purpose of removing or correcting interference to nerve transmission and
expression.
(6) Electrotherapy means the application of any radiant or current energies
of high or low frequency, alternating or direct, except surgical cauterization,
electrocoagulation, the use of radium in any form, and X-ray therapy.
(7) Equid means a hoofed mammal of the family equidae and includes
donkeys, horses, mules, and zebras.
(8) Licensed veterinarian has the same meaning as set forth in section 12-315-104 (11).
(9) Venipuncture means the puncture of a vein for the withdrawal of blood
for the purpose of diagnosis through blood analysis. Any blood analysis shall be
done by a chiropractor or by a commercial laboratory.
(10) Veterinary medical clearance means that a veterinarian licensed under
article 315 of this title 12 has examined an animal patient, has provided a diagnosis
or differential diagnosis if appropriate, and has provided written clearance, which
may be transmitted electronically, for animal chiropractic. The veterinary medical
clearance shall precede the commencement of animal chiropractic treatment and
may contain limitations on the scope, date of initiation, and duration of chiropractic
treatment. Once a veterinary medical clearance has been received, the chiropractor
is responsible for developing the plan of care for the animal patient's animal chiropractic.