Creaky Knees Won't Get Lieberman Down

Joseph Lieberman takes plenty of pills every day. He knows what it is like to creak like a rusty hinge. He insists, however, that his minor health problems—a side effect of aging—will not get him down.

Lieberman, the running mate of Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore, told The New York Times last week that he feels "very healthy." Among a skin condition and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder, Lieberman also has been diagnosed with Chondromalacia Patallae, a softening of the cartilage surrounding the knee. Once an avid runner, Lieberman says he now has cut back to three times a week, walking or swimming the other days. "I am 58, so along the way you pick up aches and pains," Lieberman told the Times last week.

Chondromalacia patellae is an ailment common among runners. A patient with the condition experiences a softening of the articular cartilage that normally cushions and lubricates the joint. As a result, the bones of the knee rub together, causing pain and swelling. Lieberman told the Times that knee braces and leg-strengthening exercises have helped reduce the pain from the condition. He says he does 120 push-ups and 100 sit-ups a day to stay fit.

Though the knee condition is bothersome, Lieberman says that his most irritating problem is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD), a digestive disorder characterized by chronic heartburn otherwise known as acid reflux.

Lieberman's counterpart, Republican Vice Presidential hopeful Richard Cheney, has a history of heart disease, but his two doctors told the Times he is in "excellent health." The frontmen for the two leading campaigns, Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush, were both declared to be in excellent health.

Knee1 encourages you to vote November 7.