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Summary Assessment of the glenohumeral joint relies upon a detailed, time-dependent history of the presenting complaint and a thorough examination of its subtle signs. As such, the complex is most appropriately approached as a unit, rather than as a discrete number of examinable components. However, understanding the interactions between these components means that a high level of skill is needed to adequately assess the joint, and learning these skills is compounded by the large number of eponymous tests described for examining separate elements. The stabilising mechanisms of the shoulder may crudely be classified as passive (non-contractile) or active (contractile) in function; this artificial distinction neglects the role of contractile tissue in maintaining stability whilst not contracting, but serves to facilitate understanding, and indeed categorise modes and methods of physical examination. Indeed, modes of failure are specific to these groupings. Determining the degree of instability caused by the passive stabilising mechanisms is commonly fraught with both intra- and inter-rater discrepancy, and as such, requires a great deal of experience to implement and interpret. However, an evidence-based approach to a clinical examination sequence can improve its predictive value. A critical review of the literature on examination of passive stabilising mechanisms is presented, followed by a distillation of current concepts resulting in the presentation of an evidence-based approach to examination that is practical, and can be implemented successfully by all involved in the rehabilitation process.

Ferritic hot rolling was developed in the late 1980s through a desire to eliminate temperature control problems when rolling thin hot strip in the austenitic condition. This was accomplished by reducing the finishing temperature to allow rolling to take place with a wholly ferritic microstructure. It was soon discovered, however, that time and cost savings could be realised through this new rolling practice. Laboratory hot rolling facilities and procedures were developed to simulate the ferritic hot rolling process, evaluating variables such as reheating, finishing, coiling temperature, lubrication and hot rolling loads. This allowed the determination of microstructure/mechanical property relationships for interstitial free (IF) grades and the suggestion of suitable processing schedules for both recrystallised and strained ferritically hot rolled material. This evaluation includes the feasibility of manufacturing in the identified hot band products on a modern integrated steel plant.

Combined movement examination (CME) of the lumbar spine has been recommended for clinical examination as it confers information about mechanical pain patterns. However, little quantitative study has been undertaken to validate its use in manual therapy practice. This study used computer aided CME to develop a normal reference range, and to guide provisional diagnosis and management. Two cases were assessed, before and after manual therapy using CME, a pain Visual Analogue Scale, the Roland Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire and the Short Form (SF-12) Health Survey. Diagnosis and management were guided by comparing each CME pattern with the age and gender matched reference range. Self-reports data and CME total change scores were markedly improved for both cases, particularly for the most painful and restricted CME directions. This report describes how computer-aided CME and a normal reference range may be used objectively to inform a diagnosis and as an outcome measure in cases of mechanical LBP. Future investigations of cases with specific lumbar pathologies are required to validate this concept.

Over recent years, attention has been focused on the development of ferritically hot rolled steels, despite the inherently low drawability attributed to the formation of a (110) texture just below the strip surface. This texture, which cannot be removed by further processing, prevents the formation of the (222) compression texture necessary for good drawability. However, the present programme demonstrates that the use of interstitial free (IF) steels, coupled with the selection of ester oils for rolling lubrication, suppresses the (110) shear texture to satisfy the (222)/(200) > 1 requirements for good drawability. In contrast, while mineral oil reduces frictional conditions in the roll gap, no improvement in through thickness texture formation is found during ferritic hot rolling.