Ergogenic aids are external aids that improve human performance by helping to increase an individual’s resistance to fatigue. Although ergogenic aid encompasses both physical and mental aid, the term is used primarily for substances or processes designed to help improve physical or muscular work capacity.
Ergogenic aids can be mechanical, psychological, physiological, or nutritional in nature. Sportspersons make use of ergogenic aids for faster recovery from training and competition. These aids can be natural, for example water or synthetic, for example anabolic steroids.