What the interview is about:
A research-oriented Master’s programme with a strong practical focus – that was exactly what Laura Gutschow was looking for after completing her Bachelor’s degree in Social Gerontology. She found just what she was looking for at SRH University, where she completed a Master’s in Neurorehabilitation from 2023 to 2025. To mark her latest publication in the journal “neuroreha”, we spoke to her about her studies, career opportunities and her academic work. 💡
What personally motivated you to choose the Master’s programme in Neurorehabilitation at SRH University?
Laura: I chose it because I wanted to start a research-oriented degree with a strong practical focus. It was particularly important that I could fit the course around my professional commitments. I currently work 30 hours a week in acute neurology at Leipzig University Hospital. The SRH programme’s structure fitted in well with my work – both in terms of organisation and financially. I was particularly drawn to the in-depth focus on the treatment of cognitive disorders. This fits perfectly with my day-to-day work and builds on my Bachelor’s degree in Social Gerontology.
You recently published an article on table tennis training for people with Parkinson’s in the specialist journal ‘neuroreha’ – congratulations! How did you come across this topic?
Laura: Thank you very much! I came across the topic a few years ago when I first read about the PingPongParkinson initiative. It immediately piqued my curiosity because, until then, I hadn’t realised the therapeutic value table tennis can have for people with Parkinson’s. I then explored the topic in more depth during my studies and found the combination of movement, reaction, fine motor skills and playful training incredibly fascinating.
In my day-to-day work, we regularly play table tennis with people living with Parkinson’s. They are generally very committed and persistent. They often find it far more enjoyable than traditional functional exercises, and it’s also easily transferable to everyday life. This is because the training has very practical benefits: many people with Parkinson’s find it difficult to pick things up from the floor. As the ball often drops during table tennis, this very movement is practised regularly, with high repetition and in a playful way.
Could you briefly describe the key findings of your research?
Laura: In the article, I described the potential of table tennis training for people with Parkinson’s disease. Two studies published to date, one from Japan and one from Sweden, show significant improvements in motor function and, to some extent, positive effects on quality of life and mood. It is particularly interesting that table tennis combines many therapeutic elements: endurance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, but also social and motivational aspects, as the game is played in a group.
In practical terms, table tennis therefore offers a playful, motivating way to specifically train motor skills – both in therapy and for self-training with family members. The evidence so far is promising, but still limited. Larger, controlled studies are needed to be able to make well-founded therapy recommendations.
What career prospects has your degree opened up for you – both in the therapeutic and scientific fields?
Laura: The career prospects in the therapeutic field are very diverse, especially if you look beyond day-to-day work with patients. For me, this means that I now support patients in a more targeted and evidence-based way, always guided by guidelines and scientific findings.
At the hospital, I set up the ‘Science and Research’ working group this year together with three colleagues from speech therapy and sports science. As part of this group, we run journal clubs for all therapeutic staff, in which we present interesting therapy-related studies from the hospital or external projects. Later this November, I will be presenting the results of my Master’s thesis there, in which I investigated how the cognitive status of people with Parkinson’s disease influences the reduction of the risk of falls in complex Parkinson’s therapy.
Projects like these demonstrate just how varied the therapeutic profession is: as well as working directly with patients, there are many opportunities to get involved in research or organisational work. The Master’s programme has given me new perspectives and ideas that I can put to use in my work.
What advice would you give to future students on the Master’s programme in Neurorehabilitation?
Laura: I’d like to tell students not to be afraid of statistics. My first experiences with statistical software were quite frustrating – I couldn’t make head nor tail of it. But I stuck with it, took my time, and eventually started to see results. It took a while, but it was worth it. Today, I really enjoy doing statistical calculations and I’ve lost my fear of them.
I also think it’s important to make a conscious effort to schedule breaks, especially during intensive periods like writing a Master’s thesis. Writing takes a lot of time, energy and stamina. It helps to treat yourself to regular short breaks to stay motivated and focused.
