For the purposes of this discussion we will be looking at this from a bodybuilding/hypertrophy standpoint as strength training may use slightly different physiological processes and a slightly different approach. (For beginners who may not know, "hypertrophy" refers to the enlargement of muscle fibers. So when you hear hypertrophy, just think "muscle growth").
In bodybuilding you often hear the term "chasing the pump". Some refer to this as a good thing and some refer to it as a bad thing. "Don't just go chasing the pump" is something I hear a lot lately.
I want to discuss these questions:
1.) How much truth is there to this "don't chase the pump" rhetoric?
2.) Can you have an effective hypertrophic workout, but with no noticeable pump at all?
3.) Can you have a workout which induces a good pump, but is NOT effective for hypertrophy?
Please discuss, and if anyone has any studies you could link on this that would be a big bonus.
