A system and method for sharing and absorbing energy between body parts. In one embodiment, the system includes an implantable energy absorbing device having a first part with a piston and arbor arranged parallel to one another and a second part also having a piston and arbor. The piston of the first part is slidable within the arbor of the second part and the piston of the second part is slidable within the arbor of the first part. Further, two springs can be received over the arbors of the first and second part and configured to bias the first and second parts apart. The energy absorbing device is configured to span across a joint.