Human Function and Performance Physical Therapy

Fantastic experience: I went to Sheldon for shoulder pain. He was attentive and customized my therapy according to my needs and made adjustments as needed. The home exercises and guides were incredible to keep improving mobility. My shoulder improved significantly.

Fantastic experience: Sheldon is the absolute best I am a former college football athlete who had a knee injury outside of sports, but Sheldon walked me through the process of recovery, tailored it specifically for me. Definitely a blessing to have a great trainer, great friend, and great person. A true professional, you would mess up if you didn’t go to Sheldon. Seriously, if your not working with him then what are you doing?? Truly world class. Thank you Sheldon :) - Darwin

Fantastic experience: Sheldon is super knowledgeable and helped me correct some imbalances that led to a strained Achilles/calf while training for a marathon. Great space with a lot of different recovery options. With Sheldon's help I'm actually running faster now than before my injury.

Fantastic experience: I visited Human Function and Performance recently! This place is amazing; lots of equipment but most of all professioanlism. I couldn’t believe my previous therapists missed the misalignment of my hips, Sheldon found it in my first session and now I feel much better. Recommended this place to colleagues and friends. Keep up the fantastic work. .

Fantastic experience: Sheldon was able to tailor the first session, which I booked day of, to my immediate concerns. The sessions that followed focused on recovery and mobility exercises. Sheldon is very knowledgeable and can go into as much detail as you want regarding anatomy and recovery on a cellular level. There are various options to help with recovery like compression boots and the HOCATT ozone therapy.

Fantastic experience: Sheldon is an awesome physical therapist. He took his time to explain the therapy, stretches, exercises and regime I would need to follow to repair my shoulder. He guided me through the reasoning and logic behind each movement and provided coaching throughout each session. He setup a progressive set of movements and customized a workout plan to resolve my issues and provided me short online videos that I could watch at home so that my therapy stayed consistent. Sheldon even took time to provide me bands and other equipment I could use outside of his office. Super helpful because I travel quite a bit for work. Highly recommend Sheldon. He is very knowledgeable in his practice and it has been awesome working with him. Me flexibility has improved dramatically and my shoulders have never felt better !!! 10/10

Fantastic experience: Sheldon was extremely helpful. He showed me lots of stretches and exercises that really helped with my knee. He was also very flexible with scheduling!

Fantastic experience: HFP is a great place for everyone who's been dealing with long term, nagging issues that surgeries or standard PT haven't been able to fix. It's a fundamentally different philosophy that seeks to discover and resolve the root cause of your problem instead of just targeting the symptomatic area. Sheldon's approach of extended 1 on 1 time between periods of independent work give the perfect blend of individual attention and personal responsibility for your care and improvement. While my infant son's changing schedule stopped me from completing my plan, I still saw more improvement in just a couple months at HFP than I did for years trying anything else, and I have every intention of returning once I am able.

Fantastic experience: Sheldon is awesome! I came to see him because of my knee and my pain is gone! He is a great guy, who really wants you to get better. He takes time to answer your questions and make sure you understand the movements and helps you improve. 10/10 recommend!

Fantastic experience: I have been working with Sheldon for 3 months and I have experienced amazing results. Finding a physical therapist that truly cares about their craft and customers is difficult, but I can assure you that if you follow his protocols your results will be similar!

Fantastic experience: Sheldon took great care of me from the time I first came in with knee pain on through the ensuing surgery and physical therapy, and was extremely patient while I worked through an insurance coverage issue. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his career working with professional and Division 1 athletes, and provides a holistic approach to health and fitness as well as tailored treatment plans that you won't get from many other providers. If customized, quality treatment is what you are looking for, this is the place.

Fantastic experience: I'm so glad to have met Sheldon! He's extremely attentive and took the time to understand my prior physical and injury history and why I was seeking care. My first appointment was highly informative, with him educating me on the exercises and stretches and how they were related to my therapy journey. My whole session was an hour and I walked away feeling better and equipped with tools to help me outside of my regular visits with him. I would highly recommend him if you would like a PT who will help you with both your short and long term goals.

Fantastic experience: I tore an abdominal muscle playing soccer a little over a month ago. That same day I reached out to Sheldon and he received me at his practice within hours. Having played many sports throughout my life, I have suffered many injuries, which have also led to several physical therapy sessions. With this experience I can confidently say that Sheldon is a fantastic physical therapist. He's not only very knowledgeable and up-to-date with the science, but he's also a great person that cared about me getting better. I would highly recommend anyone looking for physical therapy to work with Sheldon, your body will be thankful.

Fantastic experience: For several years I suffered with frequent lower back, leg and hip pain, with little relief from chiropractic and other treatments. I had sought treatment from Human Function and Performance in the past with great results. Early this year, the pain returned, and I contacted Sheldon Sonnenberg to look into repeating the treatment. Sheldon was terrific! Easy to schedule and keep up with appointments. His professional approach and time spent explaining to me what was going on and what would need to be done were very thorough and easy to understand. After just a few weeks of treatment I was already feeling better, and am now living virtually pain-free again. This was another great experience with Human Function and Performance. I highly recommend Sheldon!

Fantastic experience: HFP isn't your cookie cutter physical therapy. Sheldon takes the time and asks questions to help find the root cause of your pain and discomfort, giving you the tools to not only relieve the pain but help improve your quality of living. He encourages, teaches and most importantly, he cares about the well being of his clients.

Fantastic experience: Sheldon patiently walked me through an extensive PT program that enabled me to overcome back pain that I'd been struggling with for well over a year. I had tried seeing orthopedic physicians, using the McKenzie method, and several other things for over a year, but to no avail. Sheldon carefully studied my problem, diagnosed it and helped me breakthrough my challenges. I can now squat and deadlift heavy weights without back pain. I'm so grateful for his help.

Fantastic experience: Sheldon is amazing. My knee went out, could hardly lift my leg, back to pain free full function after working with him.

Fantastic experience: If you are experiencing any discomfort or pain you should definitely check out Sheldon. I was having hip flexor/glutes tightness and discomfort. Within a few sessions my pain drastically reduced and muscle that were dormant finally activated. As a result, my fitness and athletic ability increased. The wealth of knowledge and technique he provides is priceless.

Fantastic experience: As a retired ballerina and fitness professional, I have worked with dozens of P.T.s throughout the years. Dr. Earls is hands down one of the best in Dallas. He is thorough, investigative, and really listens to his clients. I am so glad to have a physical therapist in the DFW area who really understands the importance of treating the body as a whole, from root causes biologically as well as cognitively. Thanks John for all you do.

Fantastic experience: Had some consistent pain below my knee while hiking and running. Dr. Earls prescribed a plan to address the cause and correct my movement patterns. 5 weeks later and I am good to go again. Dr Earls did a great job of listening and explaining why and was always available to explain things further outside of the office appointment.

Fantastic experience: I had a wonderful experience working with John. From start to finish he was intentional at every appointment and took his time to learn my whole history and help put the pieces together of a puzzle that has been scrambled for years. I would recommend John to anyone in the Dallas area. I came in with limited range of motion and in significant pain, and after 6 weeks my body feels more mobile and aligned than it has in over 10 years.

Fantastic experience: John is amazing. He is thorough and innovative in his approach to generate a concise treatment plan that produces results.

Fantastic experience: Human Function and Performance was exactly the vibe I was looking for when it came to Physical Therapy. John provided 1:1 care for the entire session. This allowed for targeted treatment under the direct supervision of a Dr. of PT. I had severe knee pain and John was able to provide targeted therapy while I was in his office, a detailed program with videos while I was at home AND was always available when I had questions via text, email or phone call. Thank you John!

Fantastic experience: At Human Function and Performance, the physical therapists take a holistic approach to healing. Dr. Earls customized a treatment plan personalized to me. He took inventory of how my body was reacting and behaving to the prescribed treatment each visit, and made adjustments if a certain exercise or stretch wasn’t working to help me achieve my goals. He asked targeted questions to ensure he understood the root cause of any pain I experienced. Before my first visit, I had just experienced the worst strain in my lower back I’ve had to date. At one point, the pain was so severe, I felt I would never be able to get out of bed or walk again. Before consulting Human Function and Performance, I sought out different chiropractors, sports medicine doctors, massage therapists, etc. My pain was kept at bay, but ultimately always resurfaced. The individualized 1-on-1 therapy I received at Human Function and Performance felt different though. I believe Dr. Earls truly changed how my body functions and performs as a unified system. After completing the program, I’m exercising with weights, playing tennis, and jogging again—all activities I avoided for a number of years out of fear they would trigger a painful flare-up in my low back. I am so grateful I found Human Function and Performance. If you’re living in pain, do yourself the favor of a lifetime and schedule a consultation!

Fantastic experience: I can't recommend this PT clinic enough! This was my first time trying out physical therapy for knee pain I was experiencing through tennis and running, and I'm glad I made the decision to go to HFAP. Dr. John was really friendly and did a great job assessing and explaining the causes of my knee pain. He helped ensure I was using proper form in the exercises he prescribed and put together a daily training schedule that was personalized to me. Before going to HFAP, I was skeptical physical therapy could improve my pain in just a few weeks, but I noticed improvement after one week working with Dr. John.

Fantastic experience: I am a former athlete (very tall basketball player) and had been experiencing sciatic nerve pain that was creeping into the debilitation zone. I have experienced dozens of basketball related injuries, including a ruptured Achilles, and none of them were as painful as my sciatica. I went to some of the top chiropractors in Dallas and felt almost no relief. I tried acupuncture, deep stretching, pressure point therapy, etc. None gave me relief. I met with Dr. John a year ago and within 2 months of the evaluation, I was feeling much better. He gave me several 1 minute videos to do at home and the results, to this day, over a year later, are profound. I have no sciatic nerve pain. I can play basketball again, run, lift, get in and out of my car, with no pain. I cannot express how important this man has been to my life.

Fantastic experience: I am a very active person. Play soccer at a competitive level and got injured, being youth just keep going. Later started doing Crossfit and enlisted in the military. I was tired of going to different chiropractic clinics, sports medicine doctor and not feel the interest in really getting to the root cause of the pain and problem. Many Specialists did not want to take the time and hear what I was feeling desperate to find a solution and that's how I found Dr. Earls. He took the time to listen and create a treatment plan personalized to my needs to get me at optimal performance. I was amazed at the customer service, the flexible schedule, and the genuine interest in getting you to the best level you can be.

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend John for any physical therapy needs. It is very obvious how much he loves his job and he is a wealth of information. Each session I was sent home with a new personalized therapy calendar that focused on the next progression of my PT. The calendar had links to videos of each exercise prescribed that week. This was so awesome because it was a great way to go over all the small adjustments and alignments that you forgot from class to assure you were completing exercises correctly and felt like a continuation of the session. His studio is a shared space with new, clean equipment. Even when other people were in the space it was not distracting from my care. His scheduling was easy with a variety of times available and the location had lots of parking :) It was a great experience and I saw great progression from my initial injury.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely love this place! First heard of HFP from a workshop that was held at Hunger in the Wild. I had hip surgery about 2 years ago but the pain was still there and I was constantly getting hurt. I was referred by my doctor to another physical therapist and he had me doing stretches and told me to stay away from lifting. This was not ideal. This year, I finally decided to try HFP since they attended my gym and seemed trustworthy. After my first visit with Dr. Poellinger, I knew I was headed in the right direction! He never told me to stop lifting and it was part of my homework to work on certain lifting movements. Each session I noticed improvements and he was always a great listener. My mobility has drastically improved after our 12-week session and overall my pain is minimal to zero. I love love love everything I have learned from his explanation of exercises, how our body works, and adapting to my needs. Thank you, Dr. Poellinger!!

Fantastic experience: I was recommended to visit Dr. Earls by a personal trainer friend of mine. I injured my hip in a Pilates class about 2.5 years before finding Dr. Earls. I had pain while I was walking, throbbing pain at night, and I couldn’t sit comfortably. I couldn’t sit “cross-cross applesauce” at all, so sitting on the floor (think - yoga class) was nearly impossible. At this point I had seen multiple doctors over the course of about 2.5 years. No one could figure out what was wrong. I had xrays, MRI’s, exercises to follow, etc...and the pain never stopped. The final doctor I spoke to told me it was “just something I would have to deal with” and that was not an option! I visited Dr. Earls with the hope he could solve my problem. He listened to my problems, tested to see what I could/could not do and immediately started putting together a plan. At the end of the first session I started feeling better. I couldn’t believe it! I followed all of my prescribed exercises and did not miss a day. COVID came in the midst of my treatment and Dr. Earls seamlessly pivoted to virtual appointments. I was able to continue progressing even during a stay at home quarantine! I am back to 100% and have only been able to continue progressing in my vegan athlete journey! Thank you for giving me my life back! I am pain free and thrilled to participate in all different types of athletic activities.

Fantastic experience: John and his team are great to work with. I was dealing with back, hip and leg pain for over 6 years. John's approach was very detailed and informative and helped put a plan in place to resolve the pain as well as build strength following completion of his program. Would highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: I consider myself fortunate enough to have met and been treated by Dr John Earls. I have seen several doctors, chiropractors, physical therapist in the last 10 plus years. Went through several different types of treatment plans only to get a temporary results. After 3 sessions with Dr Earls my long lasting hip pain disappeared. I am an athlete who pushes the body, often times more than it can handle. Dr Earls have taught me how to avoid injuries and elevate any minor aches and pains during my training. He is really knowledgeable and has a passion to help people. He explains things in simple terms so an average person can understand & adopt. Not only does he look for the root of the injury/pain, he emphasizes on a whole mind and body awareness, sleeping patterns and so much more. His recent tip for a restful night of sleep was as easy as planing a piece of tape on my mouth. I highly recommend Dr Earls!

Fantastic experience: John was a great help in working on a rib flare / should alignment issue I've had going on and helping me to understand the body mechanics that led to the issue and how to improve it. The weekly programs were easy to understand and helpful for addressing issues that had become chronic.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Earls and Dr. Poellinger were incredible to work with over the last few months of treatment. I came in with severe lower back pain from an old injury seeking to continue my active life. After going to many doctors (none of which recommended a physical therapist), I was referred to HFAP by a family friend that had worked with them before. The way the team at HFAP viewed my issue was unlike anything I had ever seen. Instead of just solving "back pain" they looked at what was causing the issue. They started to address the underlying mobility problems that put my body into positions that caused a back pain response. Throughout the entire process they explained everything so throughly. I truly got a much deeper understanding of how my body works and should function correctly. The team was so easy to work with and provided the highest level and care and safety especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their commitment to detail and my success was incredible and inspiring to work with. I would highly recommended HFAP to anyone.

Fantastic experience: Dr. John Earl is the best! My trainer, Carissa Nickel, suggested I go see John after I kept having the same nagging issues with my hip and knee. Best advice ever! He helped me to understand why I was having pain and then worked with me over the course of two months to stabilize and strengthen my left side so that the pain would go away. Because he wanted me to have a long term solution, he spent time teaching me how to achieve what I needed to stay strong and healthy. He's also a very nice guy.

Fantastic experience: John was very methodical in his approach to evaluating and treating my pain. I had a complex injury involving multiple body parts, so working with a PT that had a thorough understanding of the musculoskeletal system was a must. John takes the time to educate patients and he was always quick to respond if I had questions while completing the prescribed exercise plan outside of the clinic.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Earls is extremely knowledgable and focuses on finding the root cause of pain so that patients can take steps to eliminate it, rather than just manage it. He is very good at explaining exactly what is going on throughout the body to cause your pain, and he equips patients to do all their exercises on their own so you're not constantly having to schedule appointments. He has helped me get rid of knee pain that I've struggled with for years in just a few short weeks! I highly recommend HFAP to anyone in the Dallas area!

Fantastic experience: If you’re looking for a PT to fix your issues, stop looking right now and go see Dr Earls! I had hip/lower back pain from squatting that wouldn’t go away and made me stop squatting. Chiropractor couldn’t fix it, and said I was “out of alignment” and would just have to keep coming back for adjustments. I just wanted to go back to squatting. I went to John because he seemed to work with weightlifters and I was blown away by how quick he got me back to lifting pain free! He focused on muscle and movement weaknesses that I didn’t realize I had, and I was back to full strength halfway through his program. He’s not one of the guys that wants you to keep coming back forever, but instead makes sure you know how to prevent future injuries so you don’t need to keep coming back. My only regret is that I didn’t find him sooner!

Fantastic experience: This recommendation has truly been life altering for me. I am grateful that I've had the opportunity to work with Dr. Earls on my injury rehab. After hurting my back, nothing was more frustrating for me than going to the gym and having to cut back on my training. Working with Dr. Earls over two months I've not only been able to get back up and running at the gym, but I truly have a new understanding of my the way my body functions during training.

Fantastic experience: I had a pretty severe bulged disc in my lower back, and I was looking for alternatives to surgery. After finding John online and going in for a consult, I decided to move forward with a treatment plan. John truly understands how the body works, and he encouraged me to continue doing CrossFit, but more importantly, he showed me how to do it safely. We focused on a combination of form, mobility, and strength in order to take pressure off my lower back. Thanks to John, I’m back in the gym and my lower back is feeling great!

Fantastic experience: Johnny is my favorite dallas physical therapist because he can adeptly explain what is happening with my postural imbalances and how he is addressing them. Whether you have back pain, knee pain, or shoulder pain Johnny is your guy. I was having back tension and trouble fully expanding my rib cage which makes it hard to sing as well as I could. Johnny's exercises helped release my rib cage and make singing more effortless. Johnny will listen to everything you say and test it out without jumping to conclusions. He is very personable and he is more concerned about teaching you how to do the exercises on your own so you only have to see him once a week for a few months instead of 3-5 times a week like other physical therapists in DFW. Johnny follows up quickly by email and he even has a youtube and instagram channel called Human Function and Performance.

Fantastic experience: I’ve struggled with various running related injuries for several years and went through a number of physical therapy cycles. Most of the PTs seemed to target the injury/painful area and never looked at the body comprehensively, which is why I think my injuries continued. After 4 sessions with Dr. Earls I was able to start running again. I can honestly say that he has been by far the most knowledgeable PT I’ve seen, and he does assess the total body. He spends the entire session with you one on one which I can almost guarantee you won’t find in any other clinic settings. After 10 sessions with him I’m 100% and feel confident that even if I do have minor flare ups in the future that he has given me the knowledge to be able to address them before they become an issue. Would definitely recommend!

Fantastic experience: Dude know his stuff!!! I came in with issues of being able to open my hips more. The lack of movement really started hindering me with workouts (age, too). After several visits with John, and his consistent instructions, I have seen a significant improvement on being able to open my hips and flexibility in general. Awesome guy who really seems passionate about helping his clients. I’d give him 10 stars if I could.

Fantastic experience: I have been suffering from lower back pain for years! I have a L4/L5 mild disc herniation and Johnny was the first physical therapist to pin point exactly how my body was over compensating. He put together a performance plan and I love that there are measurable results. He is very knowledgeable and even gave me homework to ensure I continue to progress in between appointments. I can’t wait to get back to my optimal performance to be able to participate in activities that I love!

Fantastic experience: Dr. Earls is the best PT I've worked with. Came to him to resolve an Achilles tendonitis before it got worse and he ended up helping me with way more than that. Ready for my next competition prep knowing I have the tools to stay healthy and continue to work on my weaknesses. Also Dr Earls was readily available by texts/email for questions which was much appreciated! Oh, and the office is conveniently located with easy parking.

Fantastic experience: So happy I found Dr. Earls! Instead of constantly treating my back pain at a chiropractor, he found the cause of why my body was moving incorrectly and causing the pain. He came up with a weekly plan to correct my movements and my back feels great now. It was hard work but the best investment I've made in myself. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Went to see Sheldon for a possible torn hamstring from a volleyball injury. His progressive therapy program helped me regain strength, and mobility. He was very flexible with his recommendation and gave me option to see him as many or few times as I wanted. The at home exercises were easy to follow and gave me tools to use in my own time. Would definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: John is great to work with. He spent time evaluating all aspects of my complaints and, explaining how the issues were all related and created a progressive program that has been very effective in alleviating my discomfort and improving my strength and flexibility. I am very happy with my experience and would recommend highly John. I’m sure I’ll go back to him myself if I have future issues.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Earls is amazing! Within no time he figured out what was causing my back pain. I had some hamstring issues that were leading to back pain after a heavy day in the gym. Not only did he fix the pain, he taught me how to strengthen the weak muscle group causing this issue and prevent it from happening again. I’ve been doing the program daily with great suscess. It’s been over a month and my back feels great! I highly recommend visiting him. Forsure The best PT I’ve ever had in Dallas. (And I’ve seen a lot lol)