[Behavioural strategies, activities, and pain : what you need to know]

Pain has multiple consequences, forcing people to change the way they carry out their activities (domestic, work, leisure, social). Classically, three behavioural strategies have been described: avoidance, modulation, and persistence. Recent research suggests that the use of these strategies is more complex and subtle than previously imagined. Identifying behavioural activity strategies early in the management process with simple, precise, and concrete questions is particularly useful for adapting treatment plans. From a therapeutic point of view, the recommendations for promoting activity are both to choose activities that are valued by the patient in order to reinforce his or her commitment, and to encourage flexibility in the choice of behavioural strategies depending on the context.