The invention relates to a movement-damping unit (30) comprising a receiving tube (32) having a longitudinal axis (A), a relative movement unit (34) which is received in the receiving tube (32) and which is displaceable back and forth relative to the receiving tube (32) substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A), and a friction device (41) acting between the receiving tube (32) and the relative movement unit (34). According to the invention, the friction device (41) comprises at least one switching element (44, 48) assigned to the relative movement unit (34) and having an engagement portion (48a) formed so as to widen radially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A), wherein at least one resiliently compressible friction element (46, 50), which comprises a recess (50a) intended for engagement with the engagement portion (48a) and is arranged on the longitudinal face of smaller diameter of the switching element (44, 48), is assigned to each switching element (44, 48).