## 4 Discussion  
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ankle JPS and balance in individuals with unilateral CAI, as well as the potential mediating effect of pain. The findings revealed significant impairment in ankle JPS on the affected leg compared to that on the asymptomatic side. Additionally, moderate correlations were observed between ankle JPS and all balance variables, indicating that reduced ankle JPS is associated with decreased balance. Notably, the study identified pain as a significant mediator in the relationship between ankle JPS and balance. This suggests that pain intensity may influence the association between ankle JPS and balance. These results emphasize the importance of considering pain as a potential mediator when examining the relationship between ankle JPS and balance in individuals with CAI. This study provides valuable insights for clinicians working with patients with CAI, highlighting the intricate interplay between ankle JPS, pain, and balance. Based on the findings of our study, several previous studies have also demonstrated significant correlations between ankle joint position sense and balance [34; 35]. In line with these studies, [PERSON] et al. [10] conducted a study investigating the relationship between ankle joint position sense and balance in 55 individuals with CAI. The results indicated a moderate positive correlation between ankle joint position sense and postural sway. These findings highlight the importance of assessing ankle proprioception and balance in the management of individuals with FAI. According to previous research, [PERSON] et al. [36] demonstrated that individuals with better ankle joint position sense exhibited improved balance in both static and dynamic balance tasks. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. [37] observed that individuals with a better ankle joint position sense displayed enhanced balance during a single-leg stance task. These findings can be explained by the notion that accurate ankle joint position sense enables individuals to make precise adjustments to their ankle joint position, resulting in better control over their body's spatial position [38]. Another possible explanation is the interconnectedness of the neural pathways involved in ankle joint position sense and balance, suggesting that improvements in one domain may lead to improvements in the other [39]. However, it is important to acknowledge that not all studies have reported significant correlations between ankle joint position sense and balance. For instance, [PERSON] et al. [40] found that while ankle joint position sense correlated with balance in healthy individuals, this relationship did not hold significance in individuals with ankle instability. Overall, although there is some evidence supporting a potential correlation between ankle joint position sense and balance, further research is necessary to comprehensively understand the nature of this relationship and its implications for assessing and treating balance and proprioceptive deficits. In this study, patients with CAI had increased anterior-posterior and medial-lateral postural sway in the affected leg compared to the normal side. Moreover, patients with