Low back pain is a common degenerative disease of the spine that has developed into a serious social problem. Recent studies have shown that intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the primary cause of low back pain and that inhibiting IDD is an important target for preventing and treating LBP. Causes of IDD include ageing, genetics, mechanical stress, and nutritional deficiencies. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have reported IDD caused by mechanical stress (MS), but the exact mechanism is still unclear. This paper intends to review the mechanisms of MS-induced IDD and provide theoretical references for clinical prevention and treatment of low back pain.