Is the 'pain' part really reflexology?
I've always been skeptical of the claims about curing diseases - which is what I really understood as reflexology - because I haven't seen any consistent evidence.
But the idea that applying localized pressure relieves pain seems sensible to me, and matches my own anecdotical experience (anecdotical by population size, but has been consistent). For that matter, so does a good movie or a deep conversation.
Focused sensation distracts from 'normal' sensation, and it is easier to focus on sharp, local stimuli over dull, distributed discomfort or pain. Never thought it had much to do with reflexology - although I could see how it could support its less ambitious claims.