Abstract: In one approach to assisting in movement a wearable device is provided. In one embodiment, the wearable device includes an upper body anchor configured for positioning on a torso of a user. The wearable device further includes a first leg anchor configured for positioning on a first leg of the user and a second leg anchor configured for positioning on a second leg of the user. In this embodiment, the wearable device further includes a connecting element between the first leg anchor and the second leg anchor, and an energy storage device connected to the upper body anchor that includes one or more pulleys or channels through which the connecting element passes, where the first leg anchor or the second leg anchor includes a stiffening layer.