Recreational therapy services with individuals recovering from spinal cord injury in inpatient rehabilitation: A cost-effectiveness analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine the cost of delivery of inpatient therapeutic services in relation to their influence on change in functional independence (as measured by the Functional Independence Measure [FIM]) of people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Participants included adults with SCI (N = 549) who received treatment during inpatient rehabilitation at the study site during a 7-year span. Results from ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis indicated that recreational therapy (RT) significantly predicted both total and motor FIM scores, while occupational therapy (OT) predicted motor FIM change. When costs of service provision and change in motor FIM scores were compared, RT required fewer units of treatment to predict change in motor FIM scores and was less costly per unit than OT. Although not causal, findings provide evidence of the benefits of RT and lend support to the continued use of RT in inpatient rehabilitation programs.