Weightlifting system and method for analysing lift motion

1 . A weightlifting system for monitoring the symmetry of a lifting stance of a weightlifter, the weightlifting system including:

a platform for supporting a weightlifter during a lift and/or handles for measuring hand force, the platform and/or handles including

one or more support plates which include one or more load sensors, and/or a plurality of handles or handle adaptors for mounting on a dumbbell, barbell, crank or other handle or drive portion of an exercise device, the plurality of handles or handle adaptors including one or more load sensors;

a processor in data communication with the one or more load sensors for receiving and processing weightlifter load data, the processor configured to assess weightlifter symmetry data against a symmetry threshold to provide a symmetry result;

an output module or display for informing the weightlifter of, or displaying, the symmetry result; and

a notification module for notifying the weightlifter based on the symmetry result;

wherein the notification module comprises a vibration module which causes a portion of the weightlifting platform to vibrate, depending on the processor assessment of the weightlifter symmetry data against the symmetry threshold;

wherein the vibration module is configured to vibrate at least a portion of the left support plate in a selected pattern if the weightlifter is leaning too far left, or the vibration module is configured to vibrate at least a portion of the right-hand support plate if the weightlifter is leaning too far to the right during or before a lift, or the vibration module is configured to vibrate a front portion of one or more of the support plates to indicate that the weightlifter is leaning too far forward.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the display is a monitor including LED, LCD, touch screen, or other powered panel display, or the display is one or more LED lights on each handle or handle adaptor.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the platform includes a unitary product with an integrated display and one or more support plates.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the platform includes a housing with a top surface, a base surface, and opposed side and end walls, and the one or more support plates are disposed flush with the top surface of the weightlifting platform.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the handles are configured to mount on a crank or other lever of a weightlifting machine.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the handle adaptors are sleeves adapted to mount over one or more handles on the crank or other lever of a weightlifting machine, or the handles or handle adaptors are configured to mount over a foot actuator on a weightlifting or other exercise machine, or the handles or handle adaptors are pads configured to mount over a leg actuator on a weightlifting or other exercise machine.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the handles or handle adaptors include a processor to receive force data from the one or more load sensors, and wherein the one or more handles or handle adaptors include wireless networking modules so as to transmit load data from one handle or handle adaptor to another handle or handle adaptor, or to a mobile device or haptic module or display module for processing or display.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the display is flush with the top surface of the weightlifting platform, or flush with an outer surface of one or more of the handles.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the display is hinged or otherwise angled to provide a different or variable viewing angle relative to the top surface.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein there is provided an onboard power supply to power the processor and the one or more load sensors and other accessories, and wherein there is provided one or more ports to facilitate charging the onboard power supply.

11 . The system of claim 1 wherein there is provided one or more data communication ports on the housing, wherein the data communication ports are USB, HDMI and the like.

12 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a database which stores data relating to height, weight, exercise, and dumbbell mass, and wherein the processor is configured to access the database to calculate a centre of mass projected onto the platform.

13 . The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to record a trajectory of the centre of mass projected onto the platform over time.

14 . A method for monitoring the symmetry of a lifting stance of a weightlifter, the method including the steps of:

receiving in a processor, data from one or more load sensors on one or more support plates on a weightlifting platform to process weightlifter load data;

processing weightlifter load data to provide weightlifter symmetry data;

assessing, in the processor, the weightlifter symmetry data against a symmetry threshold to provide symmetry result data; and

notifying the weightlifter of the symmetry result data using a notification module;

wherein the notification module comprises a vibration module which causes a portion of the weightlifting platform to vibrate, depending on the processor assessment of the weightlifter symmetry data against the symmetry threshold;

wherein the vibration module is configured to vibrate at least a portion of the left support plate in a selected pattern if the weightlifter is leaning too far left, or the vibration module is configured to vibrate at least a portion of the right-hand support plate if the weightlifter is leaning too far to the right during or before a lift, or the vibration module is configured to vibrate a front portion of one or more of the support plates to indicate that the weightlifter is leaning too far forward.

15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of recording load from each support plate over a selected period of time for display on a line graph.

16 . The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of recording times, and/or an amount of time that the weightlifter symmetry data was within and without threshold limits.