OBJECTIVES: While previous studies have examined the effects of exercise training on other International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) component levels in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), the effects of exercise training on participation remains unclear. The objectives of this review were to: (1) systematically characterize the use of outcome measures that capture participation in exercise training studies; (2) quantify the effect of exercise training on participation in persons with MS. METHODS: A search of 6 electronic databases (CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Central, Scopus) was conducted to identify controlled and non-controlled trials involving exercise training and participation in persons with MS. Search strings were built from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and "CINAHL headings". ICF linking rules were used to identify participation chapters and categories captured. Meta-analysis was used to quantify the effect of exercise training on participation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing exercise effects to no intervention/usual care. RESULTS: Forty-nine articles involving controlled and non-controlled exercise trials were included in the systematic review of outcome measures. Sixteen different outcome measures that captured all 9 participation chapters and 89 unique participation categories were identified. Across these 16 outcome measures, "mobility" was the most represented participation chapter, with 108 items. A subsample of 23 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. An overall effect of 0.60 (standard error 0.12, 95% confidence interval 0.37 to 0.84, z = 4.9, p < 0.001) was calculated, indicating a moderate, positive effect of exercise training on participation. CONCLUSION: The current review provides information that can be used to guide the selection of outcome measures that capture participation in studies of exercise training in persons with MS. Exercise training has a positive effect on outcomes that capture participation, providing further evidence for the role of exercise training in promoting and maintaining engagement in everyday life.

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