Chapter Chir 4

Chir 4.05   Prohibited practice.

Chir 4.07   Suspension.

Ch. Chir 4 Note Note: Chapter Chir 4 as it existed on December 31, 1984 was repealed and a new chapter Chir 4 was created effective January 1, 1985.

Chir 4.01 Chir 4.01 Authority and purpose. This chapter is adopted under authority in ss. 15.08 (5) (b) and 227.11, Stats., and ch. 446, Stats., to establish standards for the practice of chiropractic.

Chir 4.01 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1984, No. 348, eff. 1-1-85; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, March, 1990, No. 411; CR 18-071: am. Register December 2019 No. 768, eff. 1-1-20.

Chir 4.02 Chir 4.02 Definitions. As used in this chapter,

Chir 4.02(1) (1) “Chiropractic science” means the body of organized knowledge related to identifying the cause of departure from health of the patient and the treatment of such conditions without use of drugs or surgery. “Chiropractic science” includes using patient examination to create a diagnosis that serves as a basis for forming clinical judgments of a patient’s condition, degree or nature of treatment needed, and management and rehabilitation necessary for the restoration and preservation of health.

Chir 4.02(1m) (1m) “Examination” includes any of the following:

Chir 4.02(1m)(a) (a) Patient history.

Chir 4.02(1m)(b) (b) Evaluation techniques.

Chir 4.02(1m)(c) (c) Lab analysis, including drawing blood and blood analysis.

Chir 4.02(1m)(d) (d) Use of analytical instruments to determine vital signs and screen health status.

Chir 4.02(1m)(e) (e) Orthopedic and neurological testing.

Chir 4.02(1m)(f) (f) Range of motion and muscle testing.

Chir 4.02(1m)(g) (g) Diagnostic evaluation or imaging of the body.

Chir 4.02(2) (2) “Instrument” means a device employed or applied in accordance with the principles and techniques of chiropractic science, which is used in the practice of chiropractic to diagnose, analyze, treat, or prevent the cause of departure from complete health and proper condition of the patient.

Chir 4.02(3) (3) “Physiotherapy” has the meaning given “physiotherapy treatment” in s. Chir 10.01 (1r).

Chir 4.02(4) (4) “Practice of chiropractic” has the meaning given in s. 446.01 (2), Stats.

Chir 4.02(5) (5) “Treatment” includes any of the following:

Chir 4.02(5)(a) (a) Adjustment or manipulation of the spinal column, skeletal articulations, and adjacent tissue.

Chir 4.02(5)(b) (b) Physiotherapy and exercise rehabilitation.

Chir 4.02(5)(c) (c) Education, lifestyle modification, and counseling.

Chir 4.02 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1984, No. 348, eff. 1-1-85; renum. to be (1) and cr. (2), Register, January, 1992, No. 433, eff. 2-1-92; CR 18-071: r. and recr. (1), cr. (1m), am. (2), cr. (3) to (5) Register December 2019 No. 768, eff. 1-1-20; CR 20-085: am. (1m) (c) Register May 2022 No. 797, eff. 6-1-22.

Chir 4.04 Chir 4.04 X-ray.

Chir 4.04(1) (1) X-ray may be used only for diagnostic or analytical purposes in the practice of chiropractic.

Chir 4.04 Note Note: The requirements of ch. DHS 157 apply to licensees who use x-ray equipment.

Chir 4.04(2) (2) A chiropractor may not use the following forms of x-ray:

Chir 4.04(2)(a) (a) X-ray procedures that require introduction of drugs, clinical dyes, or radioactive substances.

Chir 4.04(2)(b) (b) Therapeutic x-ray.

Chir 4.04(3) (3) As provided under s. 446.02 (7) (d), Stats., a chiropractor may delegate x-ray services only to a chiropractic radiological technician or a health care professional acting within the scope of the health care professional’s license, registration, or certification. A chiropractor shall maintain records or ensure the chiropractor’s employer maintains records that verify a chiropractic radiological technician delegated the performance of x-ray services is certified under s. 446.025, Stats., and that the license, registration, or certification of a health care professional delegated the performance of x-ray services is current.

Chir 4.04 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1984, No. 348, eff. 1-1-85; renum. (2) to be (3), cr. (2), Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89; am. (3), Register, January, 1995, No. 469, eff. 2-1-95; CR 17-010: am. (3) Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; CR 18-071: am. (2) (a) Register December 2019 No. 768, eff. 1-1-20; CR 18-105: am. (3) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20.

Chir 4.05 Chir 4.05 Prohibited practice. A person licensed under ch. 446, Stats., may engage in the practice of chiropractic. A license to practice chiropractic does not authorize the license holder to engage in practice beyond the scope of the practice of chiropractic. Practice beyond the scope of the practice of chiropractic includes all of the following:

Chir 4.05(1m) (1m) The use of any instrument in the practice of chiropractic to diagnose, analyze, treat, or prevent the cause of departure from complete health and proper condition of the patient, which is not employed or applied in accordance with the principles and techniques of chiropractic science.

Chir 4.05(2m) (2m) Any practice system, analysis, method, or protocol that does not include the competent assessment, evaluation, or diagnosis of the condition to be treated before beginning treatment.

Chir 4.05(3) (3) Any practice system, analysis, method, or protocol that relies upon diagnostic methods that are not generally recognized or accepted within the profession or do not have scientific validity.

Chir 4.05(4) (4) Any practice system, analysis, method, or protocol that is represented as a means of attaining spiritual growth, spiritual comfort, or spiritual well-being.

Chir 4.05 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1984, No. 348, eff. 1-1-85; r. and recr. Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89; cr. (2) (e), Register, January, 1992, No. 433, eff. 2-1-92; am. (2) (b), Register, May, 1992, No. 437, eff. 6-1-92; cr. (2) (f), (g), (h), Register, February 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; am. (2) (f) to (h), Register, July, 1999, No. 523, eff. 8-1-99; am. (1) (a), (b) 1., 2., 3., (c), (2) (a) and (b), Register, September, 1999, No. 525, eff. 10-1-99; CR 03-082: am. (1) (b) 3. Register July 2004 No. 583, eff. 8-1-04; CR 06-051: am. (1) (d) Register November 2006 No. 611, eff. 12-1-06; 2017 Wis. Act 180: renum. (1) (b) 3. to (1) (b) 3. (intro.), cr. (1) (b) 3. a., b., Register April 2018 No. 748, eff. 5-1-18; CR 18-071: r. (1) (title), renum. (1) (intro.) to (intro.) and am., r. (1) (a) to (d), (2) (intro.), (a) to (d), renum. (2) (e) (intro.) to (1m) and am., r. (2) (e) 1., renum. (2) (f) to (h) to (2m) to (4) and am. Register December 2019 No. 768, eff. 1-1-20.

Chir 4.07 Chir 4.07 Suspension. During a period in which a licensee is suspended under s. 446.03, Stats., unless the board specifies otherwise in its final order or a subsequent order, the licensee may not do any of the following:

Chir 4.07(1) (1) Engage in the practice of chiropractic.

Chir 4.07(2) (2) Have any professional contact with patients.

Chir 4.07(3) (3) Be present in any chiropractic office, other than to receive care.

Chir 4.07 History History: Cr. Register, March, 2000, No. 531, eff. 4-1-00; CR 18-071: am. (1) Register December 2019 No. 768, eff. 1-1-20.