At northlondonosteopaths, Alan Nevies and his colleagues are always keen to keep abreast of new developments and use the best tools and treatments for their patients. This week’s obituary (Daily Telegraph 5/3/21) featured Professor John Mallard, born January 14 1927 and died 25 February 2021. Professor Mallard led the scientific team at Aberdeen University that developed the first all body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner.

Although osteopathy is a manual therapy, Alan Nevies and his colleagues at northlondonosteopaths will sometimes refer patients for MRIs when the circumstances require it. This might be because the patient’s symptoms are getting worse and treatment is not helping or there is a very acute disc prolapse which should not be treated until all the facts are known. This might also be the case for a knee that tends to lock and can’t be released or chronic back pain that is not responding to conservative treatment.

On behalf of patients and practitioners at northlondonosteopaths and beyond, Alan Nevies and his colleagues honour the life of Professor John Mallard and celebrate his ingenious scientific achievements including the development of MRI and PET (positron emissions tomography) scans.