Abstract: Described herein are artificial muscles for soft exoskeletons. Each muscle comprises first and second tendons with attachment means for connecting to the exoskeleton's muscle connectors. A deformable muscle core, preferably enclosed in an outer sleeve, extends between the tendons. Each tendon receives a respective end of the muscle core, with the first tendon featuring an actuation interface for connecting to an actuator. When actuated, the muscle core changes length, causing the tendons to move toward each other as actuation increases and away from each other as actuation decreases. This mechanism enables the artificial muscle to replicate natural muscle contraction and extension, providing force and movement assistance to soft exoskeleton wearers through a flexible, adaptable design.