Title: Conservative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis according to FITS concept: presentation of the method and preliminary radiological and clinical results respecting SOSORT and SRS criteria.
Reviewer: Ewa Elenberg
Answer to the Reviewer’s report:
I thank very much for the careful reading of my paper and for the revisions which improve the final text. All the questions and suggestions for change have been addressed. The changes introduced in the final manuscript have been marked with orange color.
Discretionary Revisions
PAGE 1
4th sentence from the page's end: spell out what "FITS" means, then write
(FITS)
Done: The method Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis (FITS method) has been created for idiopathic scoliosis. However, beneficial influence of this method could be observed in other structural and in non structural spinal deformities.
(page 1)
PAGE 2. a) 6th sentence from the top: spell out what SRS means, then write (SRS)
Done:
Scoliosis Research Society (SRS criteria) b) 6th sentence from the top: spell out what SOSORT means, then write
(SOSORT)
Done:
Society of Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT criteria) c) 8th sentence from the top: change "object of" to "described in"
I changed as indicated
The results of brace treatment have been described in numerous publications.
d) 10th sentence from the top: change "the paper present autor's method" to:
"This article decribes FITS method, developed by the author for diagnosis and therapy of idiopathic scoliosis. The autor reports preliminary results of scoliosis treatment with FITS method, with the average observation period of
2.08 years."
(page 3)
This article describes FITS method, which was created and developed by the two authors:
Marianna Białek PT,PhD and Andrzej M’hango PT,MSc in 2004 for diagnosis and therapy structural and not structural scoliosis . The author of this publication - Marianna Białek, reports her preliminary results of scoliosis treatment with FITS method, with the average observation period of 2.08 years.

e) 9th line from the end of page: change"1.To make child aware of...and trunk but also to.." , to the following sentence: 1.To make child aware of...and trunk as well as to indicate.." - Done! page 3
To make child aware of existing deformation of the spine and trunk as well as to indicate a direction of scoliosis correction. f) 6th line from the end of page, change “3. Increasing of thoracic..,” to
"To increase thoracic..." – done! page 3
To increase thoracic kyphosis through myofacial release and articular mobilization.
PAGE 3
7. change “facilitation of correct three..”, change to “To facilitate correction of three…” – done!
Page 3
To facilitate correction of three -plane corrective breathing in functional positions (breathing with concavities)
9. ch ange “teaching of balance “, to “To teach balance…” – done!
Page 4
To teach balance excercises and improvment of neuro-muscular coordination with scoliosis correction
10. change “Teaching of correct pelvis,”, to “To teach correct…” done!
Page 4
To teach correct pelvis weight bearing in sitting and correction of other spine segments In gait and ADL.
PAGE 4
Make capital first letters at the bullets – done.
4th line from the end, put coma after word “movement” - done
3rd line from the end: “ in order to specify direction…”, change to “In order to
“indicate direction of therapy…” –done
Page 5
In order to indicate direction of therapy and effectiveness of therapeutic procedures we test corrective movement during each session
2ndline from the end: “we use examination of corrective movement as the test during each session.”, change to "we test corrective movement during each session
Page 5
In order to specify direction of therapy and effectiveness of therapeutic procedures we test corrective movement during each session.

PAGE
5
2nd line from the end: “Important role are here tensor”, change to “ An important role is played here by tensor,,,” - done
Page 6
An important role is played here by tensor fasciae latae muscle and tractus iliotibialis, that are very shortened on the side of convexity of Th/L scoliosis.
PAGE 6
7th line from the top: “These are also muscles…… and iliac crest which make corrective”…, change to “In addition, the muscles between the apex of curve and iliac crest make corrective…” - done
Page 6
In addition, the muscles between the apex of curve and iliac crest make corrective lateral shift more difficult (lower part of latissimus dorsi and erector spine, posterior part of internal abdominal oblique muscle, posterior layer of quadrates lumborum and lateral part Th/L fascia)
12th line from top: “change “easierthe” to “easier the”… done!
Page 6
Their pelvis attachments on the convex side of Th/L scoliosis should be released in functional position – sitting and standing. It will make easier the corrective shift.
9th line from the end of page: “At second…” change to “Then…” – done
Page 7
Then we should release short spinal rotatores – first in prone position, then in sitting (during this manouver the patient actively performes scoliosis derotation).
PAGE 7
7th line from the top: “result in correction”.., change to “results in correction”… done
Page 7
Pelvis floor muscles (which is the part of DFL) improve stabilization of lower trunk which has results in correction of upper curve of scoliosis
PAGE 8
2nd line from the end of page: “facilitation of correct”, change to “ Facilitation to correct…” done

Page 9
Facilitation to correct three-plane corrective breathing should be done after diaphragm release and restoring the best possible joint mobility in thoracic spine and thorax
PAGE 18
“Example I- clinical and X-Rey…”, change to “Example I- clinical and Xray..” - done
Page 20
Example I – clinical and X-ray effect of improved scoliosis in A1 group (Figure 20-24).
PAGE 19
“Example II- clinical and X-REy..”, change to “Example II- clinical and Xray..” - done
Page 21
Example II – clinical and X-ray effect of improved scoliosis in A1 group (Figure 20-24).
PAGE 22
The acknowledgment section was improved as suggested
Level of interest: An article of outstanding merit and interest in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests