The growth and metabolism of bone are controlled by osteogenesis of osteoblasts and absorption of osteoclasts, and osteoblasts play a main role in the process of osteogenesis. Overload will affect proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, while the loading mode, intensity, duration and other factors can change the biological properties of osteoblasts and further affect the functional activity of osteoblasts. However, the mechanism of osteoblast response to overload is still at the exploratory stage and needs in-depth study. Numerous studies have demonstrated that icariin, a kind of Chinese herbal medicine, can promote proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, and icariin with a certain concentration plays an important role in the repair of osteoblast injuries. In this paper, the response of osteoblasts to overload stimulation and repair of osteoblast injuries by icariin were summarized.