In 2015, the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Swallowing Physical Therapy was established, and the concept of “swallowing physical therapy” was formally defined. Swallowing physical therapy is a multifaceted approach that addresses factors impairing swallowing and feeding function through physical therapy techniques — including therapeutic exercise and physical modalities — with particular emphasis on respiratory management and postural adjustment. Despite its establishment, however, the specific content and practical methods of swallowing physical therapy have not yet been sufficiently disseminated among clinicians.
In response to this challenge, and with the goal of promoting wider understanding and implementation of swallowing physical therapy — one of the central issues facing our society — we have developed the Swallowing Physical Therapy Consensus Book. This publication was created with the primary aim of providing clinicians with immediately accessible, practice-ready knowledge that can be applied at the bedside without delay.
The Consensus Book addresses common clinical questions encountered in swallowing physical therapy practice, offering not only clear answers to each question but also detailed explanations of the underlying rationale. By presenting evidence-informed responses to real-world clinical challenges, the book is intended to serve as a practical reference that bridges the gap between the theoretical foundations of swallowing physical therapy and its day-to-day application in clinical settings. It is our hope that this resource will contribute to the broader dissemination and standardization of swallowing physical therapy across Japan and beyond.