T Nation

Weird Pump

Bodybuilding
#1

In back movements, whenever i’m in a set a very peculiar thing happens to me. I have an extremely good mind-muscle connection with my back, so in the first few reps my back gets pumped ALOT(usually by rep 5). I rest-pause my back movements(not to complete failure DC style, but i stop when my form goes to shit). The second rest-pause set it’s still pumped. By the third my back essentially deflates. I literally cannot feel it. Even after the set when retract my scapula i feel nothing. The problem with this is i can’t gauge whether the third+ rest pause set reps were effective.

This only happens on back movements.

Anyone know what’s going on with my back?

#2

Does it occur if you use a lighter load?

#3

[quote]plateau wrote:
Does it occur if you use a lighter load?[/quote]

#4

Maybe your mind went blank?

#5

@plateau and kaisermetal
I actually have a hard time feeling my back with lighter weights, i need a heavier weight or i just don’t get any feeling. So yeah, i guess it does happen with a lighter weight then; but with a lighter wieght it’s always deflated.

@pja
it’s not a one time occurance, it always happens. my mind can’t go blank that many times lol

#6

Very interesting.

Work on squeezing the holy fuck out of your lats during your warm-up exercises. I had the same(ish) issue with my lats for the longest time - until I started pre-fatiguing them. By pre-fatiguing them I feel like you basically can’t screw up and not use them - they will be on fire and you’ll probably be acutely aware of them, haha.

And yes, even with rest-pause I’d recommend that.

#7

Does your form change at all when this happens? Any fatique?

#8

maybe try recording a video, that way we can help you access your problems better.

#9

[quote]SSC wrote:
Very interesting.

Work on squeezing the holy fuck out of your lats during your warm-up exercises. I had the same(ish) issue with my lats for the longest time - until I started pre-fatiguing them. By pre-fatiguing them I feel like you basically can’t screw up and not use them - they will be on fire and you’ll probably be acutely aware of them, haha.

And yes, even with rest-pause I’d recommend that.[/quote]

I’m gonna start pre-fatiguing my lats with kayak rows. And during my warm-up sets i ramp up with sets of 3 holding the contraction tightly. For some reason i lose my mind-muscle connection with higher reps, sucks.

#10

[quote]spar4tee wrote:
Does your form change at all when this happens? Any fatique?[/quote]

Well i’m fatigued since it’s later into my rest-pause set. But my form doesn’t change, i rest if my form goes to shit(that’s how i do my rest-pause)

#11

The same kind of thing happens to me, my theory is my biceps are getting fatigued before my back and my form starts to deteriorate

#12

Slightly off topic question, but what are kayak rows that everyone seams to be going on about lately? I’ve trying searching but all I can find is how to row an actual kayak.

#13

you may be confusing ‘no MM connection’ with ‘comparatively less MM connection’.

I wouldnt worry about it unless you think other muscles are doing the work that the target muscle should be doing.

#14

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
you may be confusing ‘no MM connection’ with ‘comparatively less MM connection’.

I wouldnt worry about it unless you think other muscles are doing the work that the target muscle should be doing. [/quote]

QFT

#15

[quote]deadliftgoal500 wrote:
In back movements, whenever i’m in a set a very peculiar thing happens to me. I have an extremely good mind-muscle connection with my back, so in the first few reps my back gets pumped ALOT(usually by rep 5). I rest-pause my back movements(not to complete failure DC style, but i stop when my form goes to shit). The second rest-pause set it’s still pumped. By the third my back essentially deflates. I literally cannot feel it. Even after the set when retract my scapula i feel nothing. The problem with this is i can’t gauge whether the third+ rest pause set reps were effective.

This only happens on back movements.

Anyone know what’s going on with my back?[/quote]

MOAR GLUCOSE

#16

[quote]GluteusGigantis wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
you may be confusing ‘no MM connection’ with ‘comparatively less MM connection’.

I wouldnt worry about it unless you think other muscles are doing the work that the target muscle should be doing. [/quote]

QFT[/quote]

Yeah this is probably it

#17

On a related note, i’ve noticed my lats pump up with low rep sets and don’t respond to higher reps at all. In today’s rest pause, i did 2 reps, rested 5 seconds, repeated until near failure. With higher reps, i physically can’t feel my lats, but with 2 rep sets i feel it immensely.

This is the exact opposite of what CT and most big guys recommend for lats. What gives?

#18

[quote]deadliftgoal500 wrote:
On a related note, i’ve noticed my lats pump up with low rep sets and don’t respond to higher reps at all. In today’s rest pause, i did 2 reps, rested 5 seconds, repeated until near failure. With higher reps, i physically can’t feel my lats, but with 2 rep sets i feel it immensely.

This is the exact opposite of what CT and most big guys recommend for lats. What gives?[/quote]

by your nickname I would guess you have a preference for low reps, I think you’re jut better at targeting every muscle with low reps, because you’re more used to it.

#19

[quote]deadliftgoal500 wrote:
On a related note, i’ve noticed my lats pump up with low rep sets and don’t respond to higher reps at all. In today’s rest pause, i did 2 reps, rested 5 seconds, repeated until near failure. With higher reps, i physically can’t feel my lats, but with 2 rep sets i feel it immensely.

This is the exact opposite of what CT and most big guys recommend for lats. What gives?[/quote]
That’s happenned to me with chest on bench a few times. I think it’s just the quality of the contraction. You probably aren’t deliberately squeezing your back hard with the lighter loads. Just a guess.