Pain has a substantial impact on physical performance and quality of life among ambulatory human immunodeficiency virus patients. Fatigue also impacts physical performance. Compromised ability to perform certain physical tasks affects quality of life. Further investigation of the roles of these relevant variables should be investigated in path analyses.

The data collected suggest that PLWHA-DSPN report moderate-to-severe pain and significant sleep disturbances and exhibit limited ambulation distances.

The 6-week use of nighttime splints reduces DSPN-pain possibly by providing peripheral inhibition of external stimuli. Future studies are needed to validate this inhibitory intervention to manage DSPN in PLWHA and other neuropathic conditions.