Millions of people face walking difficulties stemming from neurological conditions, injuries, or other health issues. Traditional treatments, which include functional electrical stimulation, can be painful, and ankle and foot orthotic devices can be cumbersome and must be customized for each patient. There is a need for an adaptive solution that can be widely used.
Cadense, founded in 2021, provides an answer with its groundbreaking adaptive shoes. Cadense is the brainchild of UC Santa Barbara Teaching Professor Tyler Susko who was driven by a vision to help those in need. The solution: adaptive footwear with innovative soles. Unlike regular shoes, Cadense sneakers have two adaptive nylon pucks above the soles. When pressure is applied to the front of the foot, the pucks retract into the soft foam, which enables users to walk smoothly over obstacles. The shoes also feature soles that allow easy stopping and toe-off.
The technology grew from Dr. Susko’s machine design research, and it combines robotic design, neurorehabilitation, and functional biomechanics. The first design, the Variable Friction Shoe, creates a temporary low friction walking surface under the front half of the shoe during the swing phase and a high friction surface during the stance phase by using retractable low-friction surfaces. This allows a person to operate the shoe normally.
Cadense launched its first design in the spring of 2024 and now offers adaptive shoes and slippers in women’s and men’s styles. They also offer accessories including socks and a transition mat.
Since launching, Cadense has received numerous accolades and awards including winning 1st Place Judges’ Award at the 2025 Ventech Forum, being selected for the Fall 2025 cohort of the AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP, and being named a Finalist in Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards in the Accessible Design category. Additionally in 2025, the company expanded its market beyond the U.S. and Canada to include the United Kingdom.