Dr. Debra Foxfern DC

08/11/2026

Touch the Spine; Touch the Brain

A Researched Op-Ed

“What came first: the feeling of sadness or the forward head posture?" I candidly asked a patient I'd been seeing for several months. He wasn’t quite sure how to answer, so I elaborated on the dilemma. “The habit of repetitively hunching over isn't just about neck pain. It shapes how the brain perceives the world too. We're constantly adapting: to threats, to compliments, to movement, to each other. That's what drives the nervous system's plasticity. Chiropractic care is a kickstart to help loosen a stagnant pattern, so you can choose a different perception and a different posture for yourself(1).” We had come back to this conversation, in different forms, over many sessions. I watched something shift in his eyes this time.

"Like when my cat reacts to a loud noise, and she retracts her shoulders back," he said.

“Yes, that’s actually a great example, humans have this reaction as well(2). Take some moments this week and see if you can stay curious and open when you have this response in your body, including the feelings that come up in the hunched posture and an open posture."

That instinct to connect his cat's startle response to his own body wasn't just a charming aside. The startle-and-retract pattern he noticed in his cat, and recognized in himself, is a small window into something much larger: the body's posture and the nervous system's state are in constant, bidirectional conversation. What looks like a shoulder pulling back or a spine hunching forward is also, at the same time, a story the brain is telling itself about safety and threat. And if that story is repeated over and over, that pattern becomes more cemented in the nervous system. That's no longer just clinical intuition; it's increasingly visible on a scan.

A 2024 study placed thirty low back pain patients in an fMRI, a machine to measure brain blood flow, before and after treatment. Compared to a sham group, underactive frontal lobe regions tied to emotional regulation became more active, while overactive cerebellar regions (which govern posture and motor control) calmed down. Pain scores dropped significantly, too(3). A separate study in Brain Sciences, using EEG to track electrical activity across the scalp, found that chiropractic care produced measurable improvements in sleep, mood, pain, and quality of life, with theta, alpha, and beta brainwaves growing more coherent(4). Other studies measuring immune function, blood inflammatory markers and heart rate variability continue to demonstrate that a spinal adjustment leads to changes beyond the vertebrae.

So how does chiropractic - whether the classic style, with its nonessential snap, crackle, pop, or a gentler light force approach - produce changes like these? The mechanical force applied between two bones releases pinched joint tissue, setting off a cascade of effects that ripple well beyond the joint itself. Local nerves send signals up the spinal cord to the brain, updating it on where the joint now sits in space. That new information, in turn, allows the surrounding muscles to move with more ease and coordination(5). It's this continuation of the pathway that explains what shows up on the fMRI and EEG scans above: the nervous system isn't just registering a joint moving, it's rewriting a pattern. More research on how neurotransmitters from the brain, such as oxytocin and serotonin, are released by chiropractic care would be beneficial, though the descending inhibitory pathway has made some headway(6).

In other words, chiropractic care doesn't just interrupt pain. It offers the nervous system a new path to travel, instead of the dissonant loop it's worn into: the pain, the low mood, the disrupted sleep, all reinforcing each other. That loop can feel like the body arguing with itself. Undoing it is rarely tidy. I've had patients release grief on the table, or laugh, or go quiet with a sense of calm they can't quite explain. That unpredictability is worth naming rather than smoothing over: surrendering an old pattern and opening up to a new one takes a kind of courage that should be respected.

The question I keep circling - does the body shape the mind, or does the mind project itself onto the body - is one I don't expect to resolve. I dance with it in every session: some days through craniosacral touch, some days through classic spinal work, some days through nothing more than a conversation about mindset. I've stopped trying to land on a final answer. The koan, I've come to think, is the point. It's what keeps me curious, and it's why I still believe this is a life-worthy question for me to keep asking and for anyone willing to listen to what their body has been trying to say.

See my Works Cited at debrafoxfern.org/blog

12/18/2025

How do you Avoid the Pseudo Power Pose This Holiday Season? Why rib flare feels confident—but quietly taxes your nervous system.

Whether you’re navigating family drama or recovering from sufganiot (Channukah jelly doughnuts), a body that’s aligned and breathing well can be a surprisingly powerful ally. In moments like these, posture isn’t about standing up straighter—it’s about finding a position that truly supports you.

So here you are colleagues, friends and clients: two offerings for yourself or to a loved one. Gift certificates and some posture advice.

**No Overnight Shipping Required 🎁**
If your body is feeling more supported and regulated, consider sharing that care with someone you love. A chiropractic gift card is a thoughtful way to offer nervous system support, movement, and relief—no wrapping paper required.
Care can be powerful, especially for those navigating stress, persistent tension, or long days at a desk. It’s an invitation to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the body.

Purchase a gift card here: https://debrafoxfern.janeapp.com/online_gift_cards/new

Okay, now let’s get nerdy!

**Pseudo Power Pose: Rib Flare**
Rib flare posture is extremely common—and often completely acceptable. Many people don’t realize they’re standing this way because it can feel neutral or even empowering. Over time, though, this pattern can quietly place extra strain on the spine, adrenals, nervous system, low back and mid back.

Rib flare occurs when the lower ribs lift and angle forward instead of resting gently over the pelvis. This often pairs with the pelvis slanting downward, the knees locking, and the body relying more on passive structures (joints and ligaments) than active muscular support. The result is a body that looks upright but isn’t well stacked.

When the ribs and pelvis lose their relationship, the deep core muscles that help regulate spinal stability and breathing don’t engage effectively. The nervous system compensates by increasing tone in the low back, hip flexors, shoulders, neck—and sometimes even the jaw. This is why discomfort from posture patterns often shows up later in the day rather than immediately.

**Why Rib Flare Matters for Spinal Health**

Your spine is designed to distribute load in a very specific way:

About 70% of your body weight should be supported through the spinal discs

About 30% through the facet joints

When rib flare is present, this balance shifts. The spine becomes more compressed through the facets, while the discs lose their ability to accept and distribute load evenly. Over time, this can contribute to stiffness, irritation, and fatigue—especially in the low back, mid-back, and neck.

Restoring rib position isn’t about forcing “good posture.” It’s about helping the body find stacking again: ribs over pelvis, head over ribs, with balanced pressure through the spine.

**Three Simple Ways to Reduce Rib Flare**

These movements are small, gentle, and focused on awareness rather than effort.

1) Pelvic Tilts
Pelvic tilts help reconnect the pelvis and rib cage while reactivating the deep abdominal system.

Try this:

Lie on your back or sit comfortably

Gently tilt your pelvis towards your sternum so the low back softens or flattens slightly

Allow the ribs to melt down toward the pelvis and the small of the back

Hold for 3–5 seconds while breathing 360 degrees around the lower ribs

Repeat 8–10 times

This movement helps the nervous system relearn where neutral alignment actually lives.

2) Air Crunches (Think Air Guitar, but Crunches 🎸)
These are not traditional crunches. They’re small, controlled movements designed to guide the ribs down without strain.

Try this:

Sit or lie back in a relaxed position

Exhale gently and bring the sternum down as if starting a crunch

Keep the motion subtle—imagine crunching the air, not lifting your body

Relax and repeat 6–10 times

These help restore rib control and support the spine without bracing or tension.

3) Adjustments
Sometimes the body needs a helping hand to improve proprioception—our internal sense of where we are in space. If you’ve ever sat through a report of findings, you may remember the diagram showing how our body posture shapes the way the brain maps the body.

Chiropractic adjustments provide a clear, specific sensory input to the nervous system. This input helps the brain become more plastic, or adaptable, and more open to sensing and exploring new positions. In this way, adjustments don’t force posture to change—they help the nervous system recognize what’s possible. When combined with gentle movement and awareness exercises, they can make it easier for the body to find a more balanced, stacked position without effort or strain.

12/02/2025

Being truly seen by your doctor matters.

Not just another insurance code.
Not just another marketing metric.
Not just another “next patient.”

You deserve care that looks at the whole you through many lenses:

1) Neurology: the wiring that shapes how you feel and respond

2) Orthopedics: the structure that carries your adaptations through life.

3) Osteopathy: blood flow is life force.

4) Functional Movement: how your body performs under stress.

5) Chiropractic: nervous system resilience.

Book Your Exam Today: where your body speaks and is heard.

This is care that sees you.
All of you.

12/02/2025

Mindset work, emotional healing, nutrition, movement... I tried so many ways to feel grounded. Even so, something was still off.

What I didn’t realize was that my body was holding patterns of tension that my mind couldn’t think its way out of.

My posture, breath, and nervous system were constantly compensating, keeping me in a subtle state of imbalance. A chiropractic adjustment, especially gentle craniosacral-based work, helped release those physical restrictions and allowed my body to recalibrate.

It was like everything I’d been working on finally had a foundation to land on. My mind felt clearer, my energy more centered, and my whole system more aligned.

Choosing this kind of care is truly a gift to you and all around you: one that’s easy to overlook but deeply worth receiving.

When you stop shying away from what your body has been asking for and allow yourself to be supported, you open the door to a new level of ease, clarity, and connection. It ripples out to the ones we love and returns back to us in spades.

11/25/2025

Join us for a gently immersive Craniosacral Chiropractic Playshop during the Dark Soulstice. It's a time when stillness, breath, and body-awareness naturally rise to the surface.

Wednesday December 17th 6:20-7:20pm
Save your Spot:

https://debrafoxfern.janeapp.com/locations/oakland/book #/discipline/1/treatment/38
In this one-hour experience at the Grand Ave studio we’ll explore how posture becomes a gateway to inner power, using simple yet precise anatomy to understand how your structure shapes your state. You’ll learn how functional neurology weaves into your breath, unlocking calm, clarity, and presence.

Expect a warm, supportive atmosphere, hands-on guidance, and plenty of grounded curiosity as we reconnect with the body’s quiet intelligence. Come ready to move, explore, and enjoy the spaciousness of community. Afterwards, there are many great dining options in the neighborhood to keep the connection sparked with new and old friends.

The facilitator Dr. Debra specializes in nervous-system-focused bodywork that helps people return to a calmer, more grounded and pain-free self. It's a unique blend of being kind, resourceful, and inclusive. She/they works in modalities of craniosacral therapy, organ massage, shockwave therapy, myofascial release, assisted stretching and chiropractic bodywork.

Access ground level, no stairs. Chairs & Yoga mats are available. Not a fragrance free office due to essential oil use (though not during the class).

Sickness No COVID test is required, but please honor the group by staying home if you’re feeling unwell. Masks are optional and a filter will be running. If you need to miss the playshop due to illness, you’ll receive a discount toward a private session so you can experience the work when your system is ready.

Missed it? Dr. Debra is available for speaking engagements. Please reach out if you'd like them to attend a conference or come to a gathering of your own!

10/22/2025

I’m thrilled to announce a spine-tingling new treatment now available in the office—just in time for Halloween!

So read on, dear readers; or risk being haunted by the ghost of pain unhealed. OooooOOOOoooohhh……

If you’ve ever wrestled with a stubborn tendon, an aching elbow, or a nerve that just won’t quiet down, the unconscious void may be haunting you with two words: shockwave therapy.

Now, before you picture bolts of lightning, wild-haired scientists, or anything straight out of Nosferatu, let’s set the record straight. This isn’t electric shock therapy from old horror films. In fact, there’s no electricity involved at all.

Picture this: a wand-like device gliding over your skin, emitting pulses of acoustic energy— rhythmic vibrations that stir something deep in your tissue. There are no incisions and no needles. Instead focused sound waves summon your body's own regenerative forces back to life.

Formally called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), this technique is used to treat injuries that have overstayed their welcome—it sends controlled sound waves into areas where blood flow has slowed, tissues have stiffened, and healing has seemingly given up the ghost. It’s even safe to use around metal surgical implants—those cold, gleaming bits of hardware that might make even a zombie flinch.

Does Shockwave replace chiropractic care? No, and here’s why. Timing and scope of care differ for each. Chiropractic care has long held the reputation of aligning joints with immediate and long-term results. But even when the spine is aligned and the nervous system is humming...some injuries resist release! A tight hamstring haunted by tendinopathy, a shoulder stiff with scar tissue, or a nerve that’s turned to stone may require more than an adjustment to come back to life.

That’s where shockwave’s acoustic therapy comes in: not as a replacement, but as a powerful companion. With up to sixteen visits max per body part, it is a turbo charger for healing whose timeline lasts as long as that pillow case of candies should last under the bed. Together they form a kind of supernatural duo—one aligning the bones and nervous system; the other awakening the flesh and blood.

Shockwave therapy was first conjured in 1960s Germany - not in Frankenstein's castle - but in a lab where scientists were investigating how sound energy could be used to shatter kidney stones. By the 1990s, researchers discovered that these pulses of energy had other powers.

Today, we know shockwave therapy can:
🩸 Increase blood flow to cold, stagnant tissue
💀 Break down calcified deposits in tendons and joints
🌱 Stimulate fibroblasts and osteoblasts—cells that rebuild soft tissue and bone
💫 Desensitize overactive nerves, quieting pain that’s lingered long past the initial injury
Think of it like casting a healing spell—not with incantations, but with physics.

The true magic of this treatment? It’s noninvasive, FDA-cleared, and takes about 15 minutes per session. No surgery. No long recovery time. No stitches. Most people walk in and out, feeling like something deep inside has stirred.

Shockwave therapy is often the next step when rest, physical therapy, or even injections have failed. Compared to the alternatives, it can be refreshingly straightforward:

🕯️ Steroid injections? Effective short-term, but may weaken bones and soft tissue over time.
🕯️ PRP and stem cell therapies? Promising, but often expensive and not always covered by insurance.
🕯️ Dry needling? Great for muscle knots, but it won’t do much for damaged tendons or nerve pain.

Shockwave therapy offers a middle path between doing nothing and going under the knife—a way to breathe life into joints and tissues that feel cursed.

Most people describe the sensation as odd but tolerable—like being tapped or flicked from inside. Afterward, you might notice some tenderness, a bit of swelling, or a bruise. But nothing serious, nothing sinister.

When administered by a trained clinician, the energy is targeted precisely where it's needed—leaving only the low hum of your body's repair crew getting back to work.

Shockwave therapy isn’t for everyone. It should never be used: on fresh tears or acute injuries, over malignant tumors, near the womb during pregnancy, if you have certain blood clotting disorders, on areas affected by psoriasis or skin infections and over electrical implants.

If your pain is recent and intense, or if surgery is clearly indicated, your provider may recommend a different path. But if your discomfort has lingered—chronic, cold, and spectral—shockwave might be just the resurrection you need.

Despite its name, shockwave therapy isn’t dramatic. It’s not a jolt, not a zap, not a horror story in a lab. There are no incantations or reanimation rituals. It's just the eerie, elegant beauty of modern science tuning the body back to life. And that, dear reader, might be the most enchanting magic of all.

I’m thrilled to announce a spine-tingling new treatment now available in the office—just in time for Halloween!So read on, dear readers; or risk being haunted by the ghost of pain unhealed. OooooOOOOoooohhh……If you’ve ever wrestled with a stubborn tendon, an aching elbow, or a nerve that j...

09/23/2025

In one of my last posts, I wrote about the tug-of-war between the gym and the spa. Between grit and surrender. Many of you told me you resonated with the idea of “graceful power”—a way of moving and living that doesn’t demand extremes but honors what your body truly needs.
Today, I want to go deeper into this idea. Because healing—real, cellular, deep healing—often asks us to pause in a place I call the still point.
The Still Point: A Pause That Heals
In craniosacral therapy, there’s a moment when the body’s rhythm—its gentle tide of expansion and contraction—comes to a stop. For a few seconds, there is only quiet. No push, no pull. The nervous system and its fluids rest.
Clients sometimes describe this moment as “suspended peace,” or “like floating between worlds.” Physiologically, it’s where the body reorganizes itself. Spiritually, it’s where we touch a deeper current.
The still point reminds us: healing doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from allowing what is already within us to reset. We can’t always find stillness alone, and craniosacral work can offer that supportive reset—a doorway into a little more graceful power.
The Meditative Still Point: A Mirror for Daily Life
Of course, not every still point happens on the treatment table. In daily life, reaching a meditative still point is less about tissues and fluid rhythms, and more about the truth reflected back to us when we pause.
And that truth isn’t always serene. Often, it asks us to look at our authenticity. To notice when we’ve been over-judgmental, or when we’ve dismissed the beauty in ourselves. To feel the places where we’ve armored up.
When the body—or the spirit—lets go of old patterns, it doesn’t just say “thank you” and move on. It remembers. It grieves.
Grief as Part of Healing
When I have trouble letting thoughts drift by like clouds, I turn toward journaling. Because the five phases of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—aren’t just about losing a loved one. They show up whenever we release old identities, habits, or protective layers.
Denial: “This tightness in my hip isn’t that bad. I can live with it.”

Anger: “Why is this happening to me? Why now?”

Bargaining: “If I stretch more, maybe I won’t need to slow down.”

Depression: “This is too much. I’ll never feel better.”

Acceptance: “Yes, this is my body’s truth. And yes, I can meet it with compassion.”

Healing is rarely linear. You may cycle through these phases again and again. But with each round, you loosen another knot, free another breath, uncover another piece of yourself.
Graceful Power in Daily Life
Graceful power is not about being endlessly strong, nor endlessly soft. It’s about knowing when to engage, when to rest, and when to allow the still point—whether in bodywork or in daily meditation—to emerge.
It might look like:
Choosing a walk in the sun over a punishing workout.

Letting yourself cry during a treatment, instead of apologizing for tears.

Pausing between tasks to feel your feet on the ground.

Waking up before your alarm if your body is ready for it—and jogging in the crisp morning.

An Invitation
If you are moving through migraines, endometriosis, chronic tension, or simply the exhaustion of modern life—you are not broken. You are being asked to pause, to listen, to grieve what has been held too long, and to welcome the graceful power already inside you.
In the still point—whether found on a treatment table or in your quiet morning breath—you don’t lose yourself. You come home.
With care,
Dr. Debra
https://wix.to/XxaPr1W

08/26/2025

A patient once told me, “It feels like my arm has been glued to my side.” She couldn’t hook her bra in the morning, reaching into a cupboard made her wince, and she dreaded rolling over at night because the ache would wake her up. This limitation was more than just ‘tight muscles.’ It was frozen shoulder, a condition that often arrives quietly but can deeply affect daily life.

What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, happens when the capsule around the shoulder joint — like a drawstring bag — becomes tighter and less flexible. This makes daily movements like reaching for a tissue in the car console, pulling a sweater over the head, or even sleeping on the affected side very difficult. It tends to develop gradually, consistently moving through three phases:
freezing (painful and increasing stiffness)
frozen (severe restriction but often less sharp pain)
thawing (gradual return of mobility).

Why does frozen shoulder happen?
The exact cause isn’t always clear. Sometimes it follows an injury, surgery, or period of immobility. It’s more common in women between 40–60, and is also linked with metabolic and hormonal shifts, like thyroid imbalance, diabetes, or changes during perimenopause. At its core, frozen shoulder is both a physical tightening of the joint capsule and a protective response from the nervous system.

How long does it last?
Without support, frozen shoulder may take one to three years to move through its phases. The process can feel discouraging, but the good news is that gentle, consistent care can help the shoulder regain movement more comfortably - and more quickly.

How does holistic care support frozen shoulder?
Healing isn’t just about the shoulder joint — it’s about the whole system around it.

Myofascial Posture Support: Fascia — the body’s connective web — influences shoulder mobility. When fascia around the chest, ribcage, and upper back is restricted, the shoulder joint moves with greater tension. Gentle fascial release, posture awareness, and supportive exercises help ease this grip (loosen the drawstring), giving the shoulder more freedom.

Chiropractic Care: Specific adjustments can help restore balanced motion not only at the shoulder but also at the spine, clavicle, and ribs. When the surrounding joints are moving well, the shoulder capsule is not under as much strain.

Craniosacral Therapy: Sometimes frozen shoulder is linked with nervous system “guarding” — the body holds onto tension because it doesn’t feel safe to release. Craniosacral work calms the nervous system, softens protective muscle guarding, and invites deeper healing from within.

Supplements: whether it’s changes in blood sugar levels, thyroid hormones or estrogen, a proper nutrition boost can be beneficial to reducing frozen shoulder on a microscopic level.

What can I do at home?
Keep the shoulder gently moving within a comfortable range, even if it’s small.
Heat and breathwork can relax protective tension before movement.
Work on posture awareness — opening the chest and supporting the spine reduces forward rounding that worsens shoulder restriction.
Be patient and compassionate with your body — frozen shoulder is a marathon, not a sprint.

A Simple Practice to Try Now
Place one hand gently on your chest. Take three slow breaths into your ribcage, imagining the breath widening across your collarbones. Notice how your shoulder naturally lowers and feels less guarded. Small moments like this teach the nervous system that it’s safe to release.

When should I seek care?
If you notice ongoing shoulder stiffness, pain at night that disrupts sleep, or loss of your normal range of motion, it’s time to get assessed. An exam is the first step toward understanding what phase your shoulder is in and how to best support recovery. I’d be honored to work with you — you can book your exam today at debrafoxfern.org.

Frozen shoulder is frustrating, but it is not forever. With gentle, holistic care and a focus on both posture and nervous system balance, your shoulder can gradually return to ease and freedom.


https://wix.to/y0H7KCe

A patient once told me, “It feels like my arm has been glued to my side.” She couldn’t hook her bra in the morning, reaching into a cupboard made her wince, and she dreaded rolling over at night because the ache would wake her up. This limitation was more than just ‘tight muscles.’ It was ...

07/23/2025

In today’s wellness world, we’re often offered two extremes. The gym, where intensity rules and sweat signals success. Mirrors and fluorescent light augment imperfections and black tar cushions tennis shoes. Or the spa, where tension melts away in a dim room, filled with eucalyptus and flutes, temporarily cushioning you away from a to-do list. One space tells us to push, the other says let go. But most bodies—especially the ones I see in my office—are asking for sustainable results. Between striving and surrender lives a more clear and embodied path.

In today’s wellness world, we’re often offered two extremes. The gym, where intensity rules and sweat signals success. Mirrors and fluorescent light augment imperfections and black tar cushions tennis shoes. Or the spa, where tension melts away in a dim room, filled with eucalyptus and flutes, t...

06/24/2025

Across languages, the muscles of the lower calf are honored with charming nicknames: canelas (cinnamon sticks) in Spanish, batata de perna (potato leg) in Portuguese, and baby cow in English. These playful names hint at their shape, but beneath the surface lies remarkable strength and purpose.