Regardless of the person’s age, Dr. Ryan Fuelleman has two overarching missions in mind when someone comes into his office, in need of chiropractic care.
Dr. Ryan Fuelleman
“I try to educate throughout the visit,” said Dr. Fuelleman, who works with patients as young as newborns, all the way up to senior age, within Community Health Systems’ chiropractic program. “I also try creating a very welcoming environment.”
Dr. Fuelleman, a Beloit native, has been a practicing chiropractor for 17 years, working in such disparate settings as Brasilia, Brazil and Chicago. More recently, he returned to his hometown as Community Health Systems added chiropractic care services to its list of offerings in 2024.
Patients seek out chiropractic services for a range of reasons. For this reason, Dr. Fuelleman said he asks a range of questions during an initial meeting.
“What brings you in? What happened, in terms of any accidents or injuries? For some people, it’s a very specific reason,” Dr. Fuelleman said. “But for others, it’s a wellness visit. They want their immune system to function better, and they want better movement.”
Neck and lower back pain are among some of the common areas that bring people in to see a chiropractor. Dr. Fuelleman said he hones in on these acute areas often, but also takes a more expansive look to help understand what might be the source of a particular ache or pain.
“It’s important to focus on the whole body, in addition to their area of complaint,” he said. “There’s always a purpose to it.”
For patients seeking his expertise — whether it falls under the category of active care or maintenance care — Dr. Fuelleman said he views his office as a classroom and aspires to inform people about what can be done to improve outcomes. He frequently provides his patients with two to three tips for a home care regimen.
“I talk a lot about posture, physical activity, not sitting so much and getting up and moving around,” he said. “This can help with having a healthier spine, better function and movement, increase function and allow for better posture.”
Monica Reu, behavioral health director with Community Health Systems, said the addition of chiropractic care into the agency’s list of services is a part of the organization’s overall goal.
“At CHS, we have been looking at holistic care and treating the entire person,” Reu said. “This was a service line that wasn’t necessarily offered to some of the population that we historically serve. We’re always looking for potential ways to expand and serve our community.”
Reu speaks from experience as she shares the value an on-site chiropractor has been with Community Health Systems. She began seeking out Dr. Fuelleman’s expertise after a mishap.
“I was lifting one day, and I threw out my back,” she said. “I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t sit comfortably for a period of time. After two days of not being able to move, I finally came in.”
Reu admits she had prior apprehensions about chiropractic services, but appreciated Dr. Fuelleman’s approach to adjust his technique to her preference and, along the way, explain the entire process.
“Even after the first session, I was able to walk and not feel pain,” Reu said.
Community Health Systems’ chiropractic office is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For more information on CHS’ chiropractic program, or any of its other services, visit or call 608-361-0311.
