CBT and Gentle Movement for Fibromyalgia
Rheumatology, Pain Management & Activity Engagement
The Challenge
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition marked by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems, cognitive difficulty, and heightened sensitivity. Symptoms can make work, exercise, household tasks, concentration, and social life harder, while unpredictable flare-ups can reduce confidence and quality of life. It affects people across age groups and is estimated to affect 2-4% of the general population.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people notice and change thought and behavior patterns that can intensify distress or interfere with coping. Relevant skills include reducing catastrophizing, pacing activity instead of cycling between overexertion and collapse, and practicing relaxation. CBT and physical activity can improve wellbeing, but CBT access is limited and many patients struggle to begin even mild movement.
A useful game would need to respect pain, pacing, fatigue, and fear of flare-ups. It should encourage tai chi, qi gong, or another clinician-approved form of gentle activity without rewarding people for pushing through unsafe pain.
The Big Idea
Can a game teach CBT principles and encourage gentle movement, such as tai chi or qi gong, in a way patients will actually return to?
What a Jam Prototype Could Be
- A gentle movement game with small, paced actions and relaxation breaks.
- A CBT skills loop around catastrophizing, self-pacing, body awareness, and relaxation.
- A retention-focused prototype that rewards repeated visits without pushing too hard.
- A simple outcome screen for symptom scores, quality of life, and practice frequency.
Design Questions
- How can the game motivate movement without overexertion?
- What CBT principle can be taught in one playable prototype?
- How should the game respond to pain or fatigue check-ins?
- What makes the experience feel respectful instead of patronizing?
What This Is Not
- Not a diagnosis tool, treatment order, or replacement for clinical judgment.
- Not a place to use identifiable patient data.
- Not expected to be a finished hospital product after 30 hours.
Why This Matters
If patients can practice small skills consistently, the prototype could make evidence-based care more reachable between clinic visits. Measures could include return frequency and retention, validated fibromyalgia activity scores, quality-of-life questionnaires, and whether patients sustain gentle physical activity.