Title:Factors to consider when aiming to improve participation in physical activity in children with Spina Bifida: a qualitative study

Transcription

1 Author's response to reviews Manon A.T. Bloemen Olaf Verschuren Claudia van Mechelen Hanneke E Borst (hanneke.borst@student.hu.nl) Arina J de Leeuw (arina_deleeuw@hotmail.com) Marsha van der Hoef (mars_ha@hotmail.com) Janke F de Groot (janke.degroot@hu.nl) Version:4Date:18 August 2014 Author's response to reviews: see over

2 Author's response to reviews Manon A.T. Bloemen Olaf Verschuren Claudia van Mechelen Hanneke E Borst (hanneke.borst@student.hu.nl) Arina J de Leeuw (arina_deleeuw@hotmail.com) Marsha van der Hoef (mars_ha@hotmail.com) Janke F de Groot (janke.degroot@hu.nl) Version:3Date:15 August 2014 Author's response to reviews: see over

3 Author's covering letter for initial submission Version:1Date:16 July 2014 Comments: see over

4 Manon AT Bloemen HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht Bolognalaan CJ Utrecht Phone: July 16 th 2014 Editor BMC Neurology Dear Prof. Dr. Timothy Shipley On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to submit BMC Neurology this manuscript of original clinical qualitative research entitled: Factors to consider when aiming to improve participation in physical activity. The benefits of physical activity are universal for all children, including children with disabilities like spina bifida (SB). Many children with disabilities face additional challenges in becoming and staying physically active. Identifying and understanding the factors related to physical activity from the perspectives of children and adolescents and their parents may have the potential to offset the decline in health and function observed in these children as they move through adolescence and into adulthood. The identified factors provide important practical insights into how a physically active lifestyle can be facilitated. We believe this information is relevant to multidisciplinary practice, policy, and future research. The manuscript has been read and approved by all authors for submission. All persons listed as authors (seven) have contributed to preparing the manuscript and the guidelines of the European Medical Writers Association for authorship have been met. All seven authors have no conflict of interest to report. There are no prior publications or submissions with any overlapping information. The contents of this manuscript are our original work and have not been published, in whole or in part, prior to or simultaneous with our submission of the manuscript to BMC Neurology. The study was funded by Funded by Foundation Innovation Alliance - Regional Attention and Action for Knowledge circulation (SIA RAAK), project number P and by personal PhD grant HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. This has been acknowledged at the end of the manuscript. We included names and complete contact information from suggestions (three) for reviewers. Attached you will find the manuscript including 2 Tables and 3 Figures for the results. The coloured figures may be published online, they may be published in black/grey/white hardcopy. 1

5 We would like to thank you for the time in reviewing this submission. We are very interested in the journal s review of our manuscript. If any questions should arise regarding this submission, please feel free to contact us. Yours sincerely, Manon Bloemen Suggestions for reviewers Kristie Bjornson: Assistant Professor, Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle Children s Hospital P.O. Box 5371 Seattle, WA Phone: Fax: kristie.bjornson@seattlechildrens.org Désirée Maltais: Associate Professor, Depertment of Rehabilitation Université Laval Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration Québec City, Canada Phone: # desiree.maltais@rea.ulaval.ca Barbara Gibson: Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy University of Toronto University Avenue Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1V7 Phone: Fax: barbara.gibson@utoronto.ca 2