Chronobiology and vestibular dysfunction: Optimizing occupational therapy interventions through circadian rhythms

Vestibular dysfunction affects balance, space and daily function resulting in cognitive, autonomic and sleep disturbances. Traditional occupational therapy (OT) interventions focus on balance retraining and sensory integration but emerging research highlights the role of circadian rhythms in vestibular processing. Circadian rhythms control neurotransmitter activity, hormone fluctuations and cortical excitability which affects postural stability and vestibular sensitivity throughout the day. Misalignment of these rhythms due to sleep disturbances or irregular light exposure can worsen vestibular dysfunction and hinder rehabilitation. Aligning OT interventions with natural biological rhythms may increase patient engagement, motor learning and functional independence. This paper explores the relationship between chronobiology and vestibular dysfunction, and time sensitive therapeutic strategies to optimise rehabilitation outcomes.