Colorado Code § 12-215-103

Definitions
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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.
(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.

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