Home Based Massage and Relaxation for Sickle Cell Pain

Home Based Massage and Relaxation for Sickle Cell Pain

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of in-home, family-administered massage and in-home relaxation training on measures of physical status and health care utilization in a sample of African American adolescents age 15 years and older and adults with chronic pain associated with sickle cell disease who have been randomly assigned to six sessions of either family-administered massage or progressive muscle relaxation training.

Inclusion criteria:

• Medically diagnosed with sickle cell disease, including hemoglobin SS disease, hemoglobin SD disease, hemoglobin SC disease, or sickle-thalassemia
• Self-report of having experienced chronic pain related to sickle cell disease during the past 30 days.
• Availability of a family member or friend who agrees to be trained to administer massages if the participant is randomized to the massage arm of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Sickle cell trait instead of sickle cell disease diagnosis.
• Diagnosis of disease in addition to sickle cell disease which requires regular use of pain medication. (Please note, regular use of pain medication for sickle cell pain is NOT an exclusion)