Our Founder, Dr. Thomas Ayres
Rugby Led the Way
Dr. Ayres suffered from an athletic injury at an early age. He received traditional medical treatment without satisfying results. Finally, he found himself in a chiropractor’s office and at the age of 14, already knew he wanted to make chiropractic his life’s work. Continuing to play high-level contact sports, Dr. Ayres endured many injuries. In order to stay in the game, he began to visit chiropractors on a regular basis.
Later, Dr. Ayres attended the University of Delaware and played rugby. He went on to earn his Doctor of Chiropractic at Life College in Marietta, GA — one of the first American students to attend college on a rugby scholarship. Dr. Ayres graduated with high honors in 1986. His experience as a collegiate athlete naturally led him into the sports aspect of his practice.
Helping Athletes Heal
Upon graduating, Dr. Ayres moved to North Raleigh and opened Ayres Chiropractic & Sports Injury Center in 1987. As a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (C.C.S.P.), he built a reputation for helping athletes of all ages — from high school competitors to weekend warriors — heal naturally and perform at their best.
“I get a lot of satisfaction from helping young athletes heal and recover naturally.”
An Active, Healthy Life
Dr. Ayres is married to Brook, his wife of nearly 30 years. Together they have two children: Thomas IV and Avery Layne. As a health-conscious family, they maintain a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Dr. Ayres and his wife also enjoy playing tennis.
A Legacy of Care
After nearly 40 years of practice, Dr. Ayres retired in 2026, entrusting the practice to Dr. Angel Gaspar — a doctor he mentored and chose as his successor. Under Dr. Gaspar’s ownership, the practice continues forward as Angel Hands Chiropractic, carrying on the same commitment to patient care that defined Dr. Ayres’ career.
