Episode 213 (Dr Ginny Paleg)

Are we focusing too much on body structures and functions?   Should participation and the F-words—Fun, Family, Friends, Fitness, Function, and Future—be leading the way?   Dr. Ginny Paleg is a pediatric physiotherapist specializing in children with severe motor impairments, particularly those at GMFCS Levels IV and V. She holds a Master’s in Physical Therapy from Emory University and a Doctorate from the University of Maryland Baltimore.    Certified in the Prechtl GMA and HINE, Dr. Paleg integrates evidence-based tools with coaching and routines-based interventions. With over 60 peer-reviewed publications, her research spans standers, supported stepping, and power mobility for children with complex needs. She is the lead author of the AACPDM Hypotonia Care Pathway and serves on the AACPDM Care Pathway Council, having held key roles in both AACPDM and the EACD.   If you’ve ever found yourself in a heated Facebook thread or a passionate discussion with colleagues about what really matters in pediatric therapy, you’re not alone. Dr. Ginny Paleg moderates some of these spaces, and what’s always clear is that therapists deeply care—they want children to thrive. But the differences in approach can be striking.    Today, we’re diving into the heart of this tension through the lens of the ICF-CY framework. It’s a big conversation, and one we think is absolutely worth having.