Abstract: The invention relates to a support element (11) for the human body, in particular to a backrest, of a chair or armchair. The support element (11) has a support face (21) that forms a front side of the support element. The support element is equipped with a self-adapting longitudinal structure (13), which includes at least one front, first longitudinal element (15), and at least one rear, second longitudinal element (17), extending parallel to the first longitudinal element (15), as well as a plurality of spacers (19), which are each pivotably connected to the first longitudinal element (15) and to the second longitudinal element (17). The second longitudinal element (17) is connected at a rigid angle to the first longitudinal element (15) at at least one connection point (27) and is borne at a support point (29) spaced apart from the connection point (27).

Abstract: The invention relates to a backrest with a support area (71), at least one structure connected to the support area (71) or forming the support area (71), which structure (10) extends towards the top of the backrest from a first end region of the support area (71) to a second end region of the support area (71) and at the front has a tension element (49) and at the rear a pressure element (47). The tension element (49) connects the first end region (37) of the support area (71) to the second end region (38) of the support area (71) transmitting tensile forces. The pressure element (47) connects the first end region (37) of the support area (71) to the second end region (38) of the support area (71) transmitting thrust forces. Pressure element (47) and tension element (49) are in the extension direction non-displaceably connected to one another in the first and in the second end region of the support area (71).