Chiropractic & Sports Medicine
Thomas Gallagher opened Gallagher Chiropractic and Sports Medicine in 1994 after receiving his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Southern California University of Health Sciences and his degree in Ergonomics from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Thom Nguyen, L.Ac, acupuncturist and herbalist, received his medical and acupuncture degrees in Vietnam and has been promoting health and healing at GCSM since 1997. He treats the full spectrum of health needs and specializes in women’s health and fertility.
GCSM provides care to individuals across the lifespan, from children to severely sensitive and osteoporotic elderly. We specialize in sports-related injuries, seeking to return athletes to participation with minimal time lost. The office sponsors and treats CSULB Track & Field athletes and sees numerous swimming and water polo athletes from local high schools.
 Dr. Thomas Gallagher
A Life-Changing Injury
Dr. Gallagher had a significant spinal fracture when he was 14 years old. The orthopedic surgeon advised him to spend four months in a body cast in the hospital. Instead, his parents tried the chiropractic route and found a chiropractic doctor with a much more proactive and positive treatment plan. The doctor stated that four months in a body cast would waste and atrophy the core that stabilizes muscles of the spinal column. Dr. Gallagher had to wear a brace, but was advised on spine stability, ergonomics and movement throughout his treatment. He also received corrective spinal manipulation to heal his injuries. This life-changing experience is the precursor to what he offers patients today. Since then, he has competed in four Hawaiian Ironman competitions and has paddled the toughest Ocean crossing in the world, Molokai, five times.
Proactive Sports Medicine
As a former professional athlete, Dr. Gallagher understands and is sensitive to sports-related injuries. He takes a proactive approach by designing rehabilitation activities that allow the patient to maintain some athletic participation during treatment. "Patients will come to my office after seeing a non-sports medicine practitioner. They’ve been told, 'don't participate for six weeks, put a hot pack on it and take steady doses of ibuprofen.' All that is going to do is mask the pain and let the scar tissue take over (Did you know that ibuprofen blocks prostaglandin production, which precedes tissue repair? Then, because of slow healing, patients take more ibuprofen, which further delays healing time.) I have found that remaining active while you heal gets better results. We may change the activity or how you perform it, but getting the blood flowing through the injured areas may help to reduce scar tissue. Also, we want to get the endorphin levels high to reduce pain sensation."
 Dr. Gallagher has been in practice for almost 20 years. His patient care philosophy focuses on providing Health Care, not sickness care. Health Care means to assist patients in achieving optimum performance and quality of life. This is done by reducing nerve interference, improving skeletal flexibility, reducing drug masking agents, improving dietary awareness, and reaching ideal posture and balance.
- 2009: Supervising doctor National University of Health Sciences
- 2000: Team doctor USA Women's Water Polo
- 1998: Supervising doctor Southern California University of Health Sciences
- 1994–present: Gallagher Chiropractic and Sport Medicine Group
Education:
- 1992: Southern California University of Health Sciences, Doctor of Chiropractic
- 1984: University of Southern California at Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Science
Personal physical accomplishments:
- 2009: Battle of the Paddle, 3rd place, elite division
- 2007: Molakai World Championships, top 10 finisher
- 2004: Southern California Surfski Series overall winner
- 4-time Hawaiian Ironman
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Dr. Ryan Kiser
Dr. Ryan Kiser’s health and wellness philosophy is reflected in a quote from Thomas Edison: “The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention diseases.” Dr. Kiser believes that proper diet, exercise, stress control and regular chiropractic adjustments can prevent unnecessary illness and pain in everyone from infants to seniors. “Restoring proper biomechanics and decreasing nerve interference insures proper movement and allows everyone, even the most elite athletes, to function optimally.” Dr. Kiser developed his clinical expertise in a variety of clinical settings, including Miller Children’s Hospital pediatric rehabilitation center, the CSU Northridge Athletics department, and the CSU Northridge Klotz Health Center.
Education:
- 2010: Southern California University of Health Sciences, Doctor of Chiropractic
- 2006: University of Southern California, Bachelor of Science (kinesiology)
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Dr. James Allen
Dr. Allen has extensive experience in dealing with sports injuries. Dr. Allen grew up playing a variety of sports. As with most sports, he endured a variety of injuries. In 1999, Dr. Allen injured his knee during a snowboarding accident which led him to his first ACL surgery, and a second ACL reconstruction came to the same knee while playing NCAA football. After the two rigorous rehabilitative programs he underwent, Dr. Allen decided to pursue chiropractic sports medicine having had firsthand experience with the process of surgery, physical therapy, and chiropractic.
As a Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Allen is fluent in Spanish and has donated his time and healing hands to many people in need around the world, including remote locations such as Nogales, Tijuana, and as far south as Bolivia. Dr. Allen also has volunteered his time and experience to local health clinics such as the VA, LA free clinic and Being Alive health clinic to better serve and spread his message of health and well being to his own community.
In addition to his doctorate degree, Dr. Allen holds a bachelor of science in Kinesiology from the California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo. Additionally, he is certified in Kinesio® Tape techniques, he is certified in the Cox® spine Flexion Distraction technique, and he is a Certified Personal trainer by the National Council of Sports Fitness.
Most recently, Dr. Allen has successfully treated a wide range of patients including professional athletes with astounding results. Dr. Allen provides people with the best service and cutting edge technology in therapeutic medicine and looks forward to playing a lead role in the future of chiropractic.
Chiropractic & Sports Medicine
Dr. Allen was a NCAA Division 1AA Football athlete, and currently is an active tri-athlete competitor. He specializes in restoring proper joint biomechanics, soft tissue rehabilitation, and the prevention of chronic pain and injury.
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