The present invention relates to a guiding/supporting structure and to a method for detecting surface deformations of body surfaces of living beings for determining suitable contact surfaces for guiding/supporting structures, which can be brought into contact with the surfaces of the living beings. The method comprises:orienting a body part of the living being with respect to a detection device for at least partially detecting the surface shape of at least one surface area of the body part,detecting a first surface characteristic of the surface area when the body part is in a first load state, in particular a state with the muscles relaxed,detecting a second surface characteristic of the surface area when the body part is in a second load state, in particular a state with the muscles tensioned, anddetermining the local surface deformations resulting between the first load state and the second load state.
