Influence of a distraction task on the involuntary reflex contraction of the pelvic floor muscles following cough.

AIMS To explore the involvement of a distraction task in involuntary reflex pelvic floor muscle contraction following cough. METHODS Informed consent was obtained from 33 healthy volunteers. Involuntary contraction of the external anal sphincter (EAS) was induced by means of coughing. Cough efforts were elicited by electronic order. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the EAS was recorded during involuntary contraction elicited by coughing. The trials were carried out twice: combined (or not) with a mental distraction task; the paced auditory serial additional test (PASAT). Reaction time (RT) defined as latency between the stimulus and maximum EAS EMG activity (RT1), latency between the stimulus and external intercostal (EIC) muscle EMG activity (RT2), latency between EIC EMG activity and EAS EMG activity (RT3), duration of the contraction, and the area under the EAS EMG activity curve (perineal contraction) were measured. RESULTS The distraction task altered anticipation of the PFM contraction: RT3 was -80.00 ms (IQR -107; -56) without the PASAT versus -56.67 ms (IQR: -94; -2) with the distraction task (ratio 0.71, P = 0.0045, Wilcoxon test). RT2 was altered during the distraction task: 583.33 ms (IQR: 344-775) without PASAT versus 652.71 ms (503-790) during PASAT (ratio 1.12, P = 0.031, Wilcoxon test). Finally, when the two conditions (respectively with and without the mental distraction task) were compared, there was a significant difference between the area under the EAS EMG activity curve (0.0115 mv sec vs. 0.0103 mv sec, ratio 0.90, P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS The mental distraction task altered involuntary reflex contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:160-165, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.