Erik Hiester, DO, Chief Medical Officer at Vital Motion, talks about a new device called the Hummingbird, meant to help patients treat symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Interview conducted by Ivanhoe Broadcast News in September 2017.
Tell us, first of all, what is fibromyalgia? What are the symptoms and how prevalent is it?
Dr. Hiester: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that is characterized by wide spread muscle pain. Typically in areas called tender points, as well as other symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty sleeping, cognitive problems, and difficulties with mental clarity. The tender points are typically located on both sides of the body. Often at the head, neck, shoulders, elbows, lower extremities and upper extremities and the pain is often described as an ache or burning type of sensation. The prevalence is pretty high, about three to six percent of the population has fibromyalgia, and we see it predominantly in women about 90 percent of the time.
Up until this point is there or have they been any therapy for it, has anything really helped?
Dr. Hiester: Yes, treatments typically are non-pharmacologic or pharmacologic, being medications and non-medication. There are three FDA-approved medications that often will have a lot of side effects such as fatigue, swelling, waking, gastrointestinal problems, and it can also be costly. The physician and patients need another option in armamentarium to help with the treatment of fibromyalgia, and Hummingbird helps solve that need.
What is the Hummingbird and how does it work?
Dr. Hiester: The Hummingbird is a new option for the treatment of fibromyalgia without the side effects of medication. The device is the size of a bathroom scale, and it produces a very gentle vibration that helps to stimulate and activate the muscles in the calf; thus increasing circulation from the legs, up to the heart, and to the rest of the body. This calf muscle stimulation is called the calf muscle pump and increased circulation helps with the pain, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction of fibromyalgia. It’s easily controlled with an iPhone or Android app that’s downloadable. The individual can change the stimulation setting or the time for comfort. Some of the advantages of the Hummingbird are that it’s noninvasive, there are no side effects, and it’s easily portable to be used at home or work.
What are you finding from studies that have been done, is it helping people and how does that help? What’s the biologic behind it?
Dr. Hiester: We have published clinical research that shows that the Hummingbird has been significantly helpful for individuals with fibromyalgia and their symptoms of difficulty sleeping, cognitive troubles and their widespread pain. We have done additional internal studies that have shown improvements with more qualitative data analysis using a pedometer.
That’s counting your steps?
Dr. Hiester: Correct. We can count their steps before using the device, and then we determine if they have been more active because they have more levels per week.
Is it about the circulation or why does it work?
Dr. Hiester: The increased circulation that is produced helps with the profusion of the brain and other areas of the body. As a result of that, we see the improvement in pain. One theory for the cause of fibromyalgia is something called neurally mediated hypotension, and that is a problem with the body’s autonomic nervous system and control of blood pressure and control of circulation. Published research has shown a connection between neurally mediated hypotension and fibromyalgia. The Hummingbird technology, plantar stimulation technology helped improve that circulation and improved that blood pressure control. We believed that this is the reason we have seen such significant results.
How often do they use it, and is it easy for them to program?
Dr. Hiester: The app is very easy to download, and we are able to change the time and the frequency stimulation. The time is typically in our studies, thirty minutes used twice a day, but it could be used more than that or could be used less. It depends on their tolerance. Usually, we start a little bit lower and then taper up to the thirty minutes twice a day; we found really good use with that.
And can it be helpful with other conditions or we don’t know yet?
Dr. Hiester: Very good question. We’re in the process of starting to use this or do studies to apply this other conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome. In fact, we’re going to be embarking on a study to look at the healthy sedentary adults. In the communities now, many individuals are inactive in their work and their jobs. We think that this may help with their energy levels, with sleep. We’re going to embark on a healthy adult population.
If someone wanted to learn more or access one, I guess it’s not covered by insurance as of this moment?
Dr. Hiester: Not yet.
Then you would have to purchase it? How much is it and how do you get it?
Dr. Hiester: There are two pricing options. There’s a monthly pricing option and then a full price option and those are all listed on our website. Which is vitalmotion.com, all the information is there.
Give us a ballpark?
Dr. Hiester: It might be around $299. I care more about the science than the price. The amount is somewhat decreased if you do a monthly payment plan.
So this overall has been a big help for people with fibromyalgia?
Dr. Hiester: Yes, it’s an amazing new technology to apply for the treatment of fibromyalgia, were other treatments has failed. This really gives another option for physicians and for patients.
What made you come up with this idea?
Dr. Hiester: This technology, plantar stimulation technology, has been around for about ten years actually. It was applied in different applications, osteoporosis, but only recently did we think to try to apply it to fibromyalgia in a pilot study in upstate New York. We were able to do this through a connection with a University there that had significant improvement for fibromyalgia.
But it’s the stimulation of the Hummingbird that causes the circulation of the blood?
Dr. Hiester: Correct, correct. It’s the activation of the calf muscle pump. That activation results in a return of venous fluid and lymphatic’s back to the heart and back to the rest of the body and as a result of that, there’s improvement in the symptoms.
Because it’s basically like you said a nerve condition, nerve pain?
Dr. Hiester: There are multiple theories on the cause of fibromyalgia. It’s a little bit complicated.
END OF INTERVIEW
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