Informed Consent
Dr. Stefanie Krupp, DC, MS, is a licensed chiropractic physician in the State of Oregon. The chiropractic services provided at Sustainable Alignment include chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic procedures, soft tissue work, postural and movement assessment, and clinical recommendations regarding nutrition, lifestyle, and home care.
Nature of Care
Chiropractic care addresses how your structure, nervous system, and movement function together. Care typically includes one or more of the following:
- Chiropractic adjustment of the spine and other joints to restore movement and reduce nervous system interference
- Therapeutic procedures including manual soft tissue work, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, stretching, mobilization, and movement-based interventions
- Clinical recommendations regarding posture, ergonomics, movement, hydration, sleep, stress, and other factors that influence your structural and nervous system health
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
- Reduction of pain and muscle spasm
- Improvement in overall mobility of the body
- Increased range of motion of the spine and joints
Material Risks
Chiropractic care is generally safe. Like any healthcare intervention, it is not free of risk. Material risks may include:
- Temporary soreness, stiffness, or fatigue following an adjustment, typically resolving within 24 to 48 hours.
- Dizziness, nausea, or flushing during or after care. These symptoms are relatively rare. Please notify the clinician if you experience any of these.
- Bruising or skin irritation from manual or instrument-assisted soft tissue work.
- Burns from physiotherapy devices that produce heat. The clinician will adjust device settings and monitor placement to minimize risk.
- Aggravation of an existing injury or condition.
- Rib injury or fracture, particularly in patients with osteoporosis or low bone density. Please notify the clinician if you have been diagnosed with a bone-weakening condition.
- Disc injury, including herniation or worsening of a pre-existing disc condition. Please notify the clinician if symptoms change or worsen.
- Stroke. According to current research, there is no evidence of excess risk of stroke associated with chiropractic care. Regarding neck pain and headache symptoms, there is an association between stroke and visits to all provider-types, including primary care medical visits, which may occur before or during the provider visit.
- The likelihood of serious complication from chiropractic care is very low. The clinician will discuss specific risks relevant to your individual case before proceeding with care.
Pregnancy and Imaging
If there is any possibility that you are pregnant, please notify the clinician. Some imaging studies (such as x-rays) are not advisable during pregnancy. While imaging is not performed at this office, the clinician may refer you for diagnostic imaging when clinically indicated.
Alternatives
Alternatives to chiropractic care exist and may include medical management, physical therapy, massage therapy, mobilization, acupuncture, medication, injection therapy, surgical consultation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, observation, or no treatment at all. You may pursue these alternatives whether or not you are also receiving chiropractic care. You are encouraged to discuss alternatives with the clinician and with other healthcare providers as you see fit.
No Guarantee of Outcome
The practice of chiropractic, like the practice of all healing arts, is not an exact science. No guarantee can be given as to the results or outcome of your care.
Refusing Care
You have the right to refuse any specific procedure or to decline care entirely. Refusing diagnostic or treatment procedures may carry a risk to your future capabilities, including activities of daily living, and may contribute to progression toward chronic pain or other conditions.
Your Rights
You have the right to ask questions about any aspect of your care at any time. You have the right to refuse any specific procedure or to withdraw consent for ongoing care at any time without affecting your relationship with this office. You have the right to seek additional opinions from other healthcare providers. Your participation in care is voluntary.
General and Visit-Specific Consent
This document is your general consent to chiropractic care at Sustainable Alignment. Before each treatment, your clinician will explain the specific procedures recommended for your condition that day, the expected outcomes, and any specific risks or considerations relevant to your care. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and to decline or modify any specific procedure at any time. Your verbal consent for each treatment will be documented in your visit record.