Neuromusculoskeletal medicine deals with the systems of the body as a whole, and practitioners believe that an imbalance between the nervous system, blood vessels, musculature and skeletal framework of the body causes diseases and disorders. A doctor of osteopathy (D.O.), or an osteopath is a physician who deals with the structure and function of the body, and uses manipulations to help the body heal itself.

This holistic approach relies on all the neuromusculoskeletal systems of the body as an integral part of health. Osteopaths take a hands-on approach to disease, and though they are licensed to practice medicine, they use chiropractic-type adjustments or physical therapy in their treatment, and prefer to use medication and surgery as a last resort.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. The United States has 1,296 practicing neuromusculoskeletal medicine doctors. Broken out by state, neuromusculoskeletal medicine doctor density in Alabama is 7, in Alaska is 3, in Arizona is 43, in Arkansas is 3, in California is 210, in Colorado is 50, in Connecticut is 18, in Delaware is 7, in District of Columbia is 2, in Florida is 87, in Georgia is 24, in Hawaii is 2, in Idaho is 7, in Illinois is 33, in Indiana is 18, in Iowa is 17, in Kansas is 10, in Kentucky is 13, in Louisiana is 10, in Maine is 78, in Maryland is 18, in Massachusetts is 20, in Michigan is 90, in Minnesota is 15, in Mississippi is 5, in Missouri is 39, in Montana is 5, in Nebraska is 3, in Nevada is 13, in New Hampshire is 9, in New Jersey is 39, in New Mexico is 6, in New York is 140, in North Carolina is 15, in North Dakota is 2, in Ohio is 61, in Oklahoma is 24, in Oregon is 41, in Pennsylvania is 62, in Rhode Island is 6, in South Carolina is 7, in Tennessee is 11, in Texas is 67, in Utah is 3, in Vermont is 8, in Virginia is 36, in Washington is 46, in West Virginia is 25, and in Wisconsin is 19.