Ortho Spotlight: Jacob Kastner, DO & M Health Fairview Princeton

Behind every successful clinic, there's a team of outstanding providers and ancillary staff working hard to ensure the highest quality of care for patients.

Join us as we highlight the collaborative efforts and individuals who continuously uplift our department and orthopedic care.

Spotlight: Jacob Kastner, DO

Dr. Jacob Kastner is a board-certified sports medicine physician. Dr. Kastner’s post-undergrad academic journey began at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. He further honed his expertise during his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the Medical College of Wisconsin, followed by a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center where he served as a team physician for the University of Maryland Terrapins, the Baltimore Ravens, multiple other D-I universities and Maryland High School Athletics.

Dr. Kastner’s interest in sports medicine is deeply rooted in his own experience as a multi-sport athlete. From a young age, he knew he wanted to pursue a career that would enable him to help people stay active and move comfortably to meet their athletic and recreational goals. His personal and professional journeys have converged perfectly in his role as a sports medicine physician, allowing him to fulfill his passion for promoting health, wellness, mobility, and athletic performance.

A proud native of Minnesota, Dr. Kastner returned to his roots to serve the community he loves following his fellowship training. He currently practices at several northern metro area clinics, including M Health Fairview Princeton, where he is dedicated to providing exceptional sports and rehabilitation care to individuals of all ages.
 

As a sports medicine physician, do you find that there is often confusion about the types of services you provide?

Kastner: Absolutely. When people hear “sports medicine,” they think, “Oh! Young athletes!” We don’t just treat athletic injuries. Our days are often filled up with chronic injuries, inflammatory issues, osteo- or rheumatoid arthritis, and a whole host of other things. You can come to us for any non-operative orthopedics and musculoskeletal care. If you hurt when you move, we can help.

For many, sports medicine is synonymous with treating sports-related injuries, but your expertise extends far beyond athletes. Do you also provide care for all age groups?

Kastner: I am often asked, “Do you see kids?” Yes, I love seeing kids. As a father of 4 young children, I know the importance of keeping kids active and I love the chance to help kids get back to the activities they love. It is also so important to stay active as we age, and I am honored to help our older generations stay active and limber for as long as possible. I happily see patients of all ages, from 2 to 102 [or beyond]!

For those seeking pain relief, do you offer any specialized treatments or care unique to your region?

Kastner: Definitely. For the region, I provide ultrasound-guided injections of several types. For those unfamiliar, steroids and other medicines can be injected into joints and around tendons and nerves to relieve inflammation and provide pain relief for many different painful conditions. Some common conditions I treat include arthritis of any joint, rotator cuff injuries, meniscus tears, tendinitis, and other injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and nerves.

For a long time, most physicians were trained on ‘landmark guidance’, meaning they guided their injections by feel. With the growing technology of musculoskeletal ultrasound, we can now visualize everything we need to see within the body to give you near-perfect accuracy with your injection to place the medicine exactly where you want it to relieve your pain. 
 

Is there a typical injury you tend to treat or see most often?

Kastner: I think, naturally, if you ask any of us sports medicine providers, we see a lot of arthritis patients because it’s so prominent. That is a huge specialty for us and we have lots of tools and resources to help people limit their pain and optimize their function.

For young athletes, we help with a lot of sprains and strains, as well as major injuries like fractures, ACL tears, and cartilage injuries. We also provide concussion care. With my background in PM&R, I have extensive training in treating traumatic brain injuries and nerve injuries that make me a good person to help you with your concussion.

Working in the Princeton clinic also allows me to care for many workers in the farming, labor, and manufacturing industries. These types of jobs cause many “overuse” injuries including tendinitis, bursitis and chronic inflammation that often are treated non-surgically and can be treated in our clinic with therapy, bracing, injections, and medications.

Does the M Health Fairview Princeton clinic offer any services or amenities that are particularly unique or special for the community you serve?

Kastner: Great question. Yes! For anyone who's coming in for a musculoskeletal-type injury, we have everything you need to receive high quality care right here in Princeton, MN. From our high quality Emergency Medicine department to our full-scope surgical and non-surgical medical teams in the connected M Health Fairview Northland Hospital. We also have advanced imaging capabilities to get you all of your X-rays, MRI’s and CT’s and laboratory services to get your blood work done quickly and efficiently. You can receive all of your outpatient care with us in Sports Medicine at the M Health Fairview Clinics and Specialty Center. If needed, you can also work with our great team of Physical & Occupational Therapists and Athletic Trainers to help guide your rehabilitation to get you back in the game or back on the job!

If someone is looking to receive care, where can they find you?

Kastner: I practice at several M Health Fairview locations in the north metro area including Princeton, Maple Grove, and Elk River. Come September, I will be transitioning my practice from Elk River to Rogers.

At each of these clinics, I am fortunate to have a great relationship with my colleagues in primary care, pediatrics, emergency medicine, podiatry, and orthopedic surgery. This makes referrals easy for more seamless care for you! We are also able to collaborate with one another throughout the day to make sure each of our patients receive the best possible care.

Learn More & Connect with Providers 

Learn more about M Health Fairview Princeton Clinic | View Dr. Kastner’s M Health Profile