A shock absorber comprises a damping cylinder pressurized by a system pressure and divided by a piston into a compression chamber and a return chamber. A resilient device is disposed in the return chamber. The resilient device comprises a pressurizing member or pressurizing medium disposed in an inner volume that is delimited from the return chamber. The resilient device acts upon the damping medium volume in the return chamber such that the pressure initially during a compression stroke does not fall below a predetermined minimum pressure. As long as the pressure in the return chamber is less than the pressure created by the resilient device, the device is able to absorb energy. When the pressure in the return chamber is greater than the pressure created by the resilient device, the device becomes inflexible. The resilient device compensates for pressure reduction in the return chamber that occurs under rapid damping movements and that can cause cavitation during a compression stroke.