bimanual

Bimanual is an adjective used to describe actions, tasks, or techniques that require the use of both hands. The word combines bi-, meaning two, with manus, meaning hand, and is used across disciplines to distinguish from unimanual activities that involve a single hand.

In medicine and clinical practice, bimanual techniques are common. Bimanual examination or palpation uses two hands to explore anatomy and assess function, such as abdominal palpation, gynecologic or breast examinations, and dental or maxillofacial assessments where two-handed control improves accuracy.

In rehabilitation and therapy, bimanual training emphasizes using both limbs together to improve coordination and functional recovery, particularly after stroke or brain injury. Tasks are designed to promote bilateral coordination, and therapy may progress from symmetric to asymmetric patterns as ability returns.

In technology and robotics, bimanual control refers to interfaces and robotic systems that require or permit simultaneous use of both hands. Examples include dual-armed surgical robots, teleoperation with two controllers, and human-computer interfaces that map two-handed input to cursor or object manipulation.

In research, bimanual coordination is studied as a domain of motor control, examining how the brain links motions of the two hands, the timing of movements, and how tasks with varying symmetry affect performance and learning.