Joynt Quest: A Therapeutic Glove with a Game Based Rehabilitation System for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Overview

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatological condition in children, affecting an estimated 300,000 children in the USA alone, with a global prevalence reaching up to 150 cases per 100,000 children worldwide. JIA causes chronic joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, and reduced mobility, making long-term hand physiotherapy difficult for children. Traditional therapy exercises are repetitive and lack real-time feedback, reducing motivation and treatment adherence. This project aims to develop an engaging wearable rehabilitation system for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Joynt Quest is a solution incorporating Physiotherapy, Massage therapy, Distraction therapy, and Emotional Wellness therapy. A smart therapeutic glove engineered using compression-grade material embedded with five flex sensors, an MPU6050 motion sensor provides the mechanism to deliver physiotherapy. Additionally, four vibration motors are integrated into the glover and watch interface to provide massage therapy. This system is paired with Robo Frenzy Quest, a game developed on the Unity software platform to provide distraction therapy. Six physiotherapist-approved hand exercises control gameplay through a Unified Motion Index (UMI), a weighted equation to translate hand gestures into game movements. Each movement includes quarter, half, and complete variations of physiotherapeutic movements to accommodate limited joint range of motion caused by pain or stiffness. A heart-rate sensor and wrist-mounted LED screen display are paired with the game to provide Emotional Wellness therapy via a game timer, pulse data, and motivational messages based on the user's heart-rate zones. A companion mobile app was developed to allow physiotherapists and parents to monitor therapy adherence and movement progress remotely. A survey of twenty two juveniles evaluated whether multiplayer or solo gameplay could increase motivation and reduce isolation during therapy. Sensor data confirmed consistent UMI patterns linked to correct movements, while heart-rate zones correlated with physiological responses. Early results demonstrate that integrating motion tracking, physiological monitoring, and game-based feedback can significantly improve therapy engagement, adherence, and pediatric pain management.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Electronics & Electromagnetics (Junior Division) · Entry J-10-20

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