For people living with mobility challenges, every step matters. Yet traditional footwear is largely designed for the average gait, leaving an opportunity for footwear technology to play a more active role in supporting how people move.
Cadense is helping change that. By combining gait science, rehabilitation research, and adaptive technology, the company is redefining footwear as a potential part of the mobility solution, not simply an accommodation, but a technology designed to support movement in everyday life.
“Footwear is part of every step a person takes, yet it has traditionally played a limited role in rehabilitation,” said Dr. Nathan Estrada, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Fall Prevention specialist, and Vice President at Cadense. “Our Glide & Grip Technology opens the door for new possibilities by addressing how the foot interacts with the ground throughout the walking cycle. These findings highlight the potential for adaptive footwear to complement rehabilitation and support mobility in everyday life, while also underscoring the need for further research.”
The study’s publication in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies adds important real-world evidence to this approach and reinforces the need for continued research at the intersection of footwear, gait, and rehabilitation.
As the adaptive footwear market continues to evolve, Cadense remains focused on advancing the science, technology, and application of mobility footwear, bringing research-driven innovation into products designed for everyday life and helping redefine the possibilities for people with walking difficulties.
To read the full study, visit https://rehab.jmir.org/2026/1/e104177
To learn more about Cadense and its Variable Friction Technology, visit: Cadense – Truly Adaptive Shoes
About Cadense: Cadense is reimagining footwear around the way people move – combining breakthrough mobility technology with everyday shoes designed to help people walk more naturally, confidently, and independently. Founded on research originating at MIT and further developed at the University of California Santa Barbara, Cadense's patented Glide & Grip Technology helps support smoother, more controlled movement for people experiencing challenges such as shuffling, toe drag, instability, and foot drop. With more than 12 years of research and collaboration with clinicians and researchers, Cadense is bringing a new generation of adaptive footwear from the lab to everyday life.
Study Citation: Nataletti, et al., “Participant-Reported Reductions in Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Associated With Variable-Friction Footwear: Retrospective Pre-Post Survey Study”, JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies 2026;13:e104177; doi: 10.2196/104177
*This retrospective, pre-post observational study was based on self-reported survey data from 705 Cadense customers and had a 4.8% response rate. The study did not include a concurrent control group, and the authors noted potential self-selection bias and other limitations. The findings show associations and should be considered preliminary; they do not establish that Cadense or Variable Friction footwear caused the reported reductions. Prospective controlled studies are needed to further evaluate these effects. Reported insurance-related cost reductions are annualized estimates based on self-reported healthcare utilization and should not be interpreted as demonstrated payer savings.
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