The TAMARS treatment is a mechanical solution to the problem of back and neck pain and therefore the laws of mechanics in regards to stress and strain are highly applicable. It has already been mentioned how the spine should be supple and elastic and also be free from abnormal curvatures and patterns of pre-rotated vertebrae as these have a profound effect on the mechanical efficiency of the spine and the stressing of joints. In the case of an optimum spine, stresses are more uniformly distributed and minimised and therefore has no major concentration of forces. Research in the field of biomechanics of the spine have detailed how problems can arise as this optimum spine is altered.

For example, studies into the influence of lumbar and hip mobility on the bending stresses (or more correctly, bending 'moment') acting on the lumbar spine have shown that poor mobility in the lumbar spine and hips hugely increases the bending moment acting on the lumbar spine during forward bending and lifting activities. It is also worthwhile to note that lifting with straight legs as opposed to bent knees increases the bending moment, as does bending forward and to one side which increases the bending moment on the lumbar spine by up to 30% compared to lifting in the sagittal plane. These stresses would be increased even further in the lumbar spine due to poor mobility of the thoracic spine because of the effect of a long, stiff lever arm. Continued stressing may lead to increased risk of injury to the intervertebral discs and ligaments. It is also thought that the risk of injury would probably be greater in the first few hours of each day when the discs are swollen with fluid and have an increased bending stiffness. Much of the effect is lost after one hour, but during this first hour, the peak bending moment acting on the spine during bending and lifting activities has been shown to increase by approximately 100% in one study.

Abnormal curvatures of the spine have also been shown to increase stressing in the spine. One such study discovered that in normal lordosis in the cervical region, anterior and posterior stresses in the vertebral body are nearly uniform and minimised. However, in kyphotic areas the stresses can be six to ten times as large in magnitude compared to lordosis. This would indicate that any kyphosis is undesirable in the cervical spine.

It is also worthwhile to note that bone grows in response to mechanical stress so as to produce an anatomical structure best able to resist the applied stress (Wolff's Law). For example, studies have shown that abnormal loads, applied during the growth years, cause wedge-shaped vertebrae. Osteophyte formation has also been attributed to areas of higher stress and is commonly found adjacent to degenerated discs. This may represent an attempt by the bones to spread high loading over a greater area in order reduce the higher pressure transmitted through the intervertebral disc. Unfortunately these adaptions can lead to nerve root entrapment within the intervertebral foramen. Although disc degeneration is commonly associated with ageing, the fact that disc degeneration is more prevalent at lower lumbar levels, and in men also suggests a strong mechanical influence.

Clearly the mechanical properties of the spine are hugely important and this is why the optimum spine should be supple and elastic and also be free from abnormal curvatures and patterns of pre-rotated vertebrae.