Home Based Massage and Relaxation for Sickle Cell Pain

Inclusion Criteria

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)