A method and apparatus for testing an item, such as an artificial and/or prosthetic intervertebral disc or part thereof, is provided to allow one or more combinations of compressive load and/or flexion and/or extension and/or lateral bending and/or axial rotation and/or shear to be considered. The method includes: providing a first structure having an item contacting portion and a second structure having an item contacting portion; providing an item between the first and second structures and in contact with the item contacting portions; operating an actuator to move the first structure between a first state and a second state, the first structure being in a first rotational position relative to the second structure in the first state and being in a different second rotational position relative to the second structure in the second state.